The No. 5 LSU softball team extended its unbeaten start to the season with a 10-0 victory against Arkansas in Game 1 of this weekend’s series Friday night at Tiger Park.
The Tigers (23-0) defeated the Razorbacks (12-8) behind a dominant performance from freshman pitcher Carley Hoover in the circle and with two big innings from the offense, extending the best start by any sports team in LSU history.
Arkansas (12-8) pitcher Sydney Wright kept LSU’s offense in-check for the first two innings before the Tigers took control in the bottom of the third. LSU coach Beth Torina said LSU adjusted at the plate to take command of the game.
“Once they’ve seen a pitcher and are able to make some adjustments and get their timing, they’re pretty tough to get out that second time through,” Torina said.
Freshman left fielder Emily Griggs drew a leadoff walk to start the third inning before sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry’s tripled to score Griggs and give LSU a 1-0 lead.
Junior shortstop Bianka Bell was a few inches shy of her 34th home run to pass former LSU outfielder Rachel Mitchell’s career home run record. However, Bell settled for an RBI triple of her own that stretched the Tigers lead to 2-0. 
Sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish capped the scoring in the third by blasting her team-leading 10th home run of the season over the left field wall to extend LSU’s lead to 4-0. 
The Tigers added six more runs in the bottom of the fourth. 
Senior designated player Dylan Supak and sophomore second baseman Constance Quinn each drew a walk in LSU’s first two at-bats of the inning. Griggs followed with an RBI double to make it 6-0. 
Landry’s two-RBI single extended the lead to 8-0 before junior catcher Kellsi Kloss and junior first baseman Sandra Simmons each hit sacrifice flies to cap the scoring and give LSU a 10-0 lead.
That lead was more than enough for Hoover, who threw a complete game, giving up no runs and just two hits across five innings. She struck out nine batters and walked one on 84 pitches.
“I felt really locked in with my legs tonight, and that typically helps me throw a little harder, so that was a good feeling,” Hoover said.
Griggs said it’s good to get out to a winning start in conference play, but there are many more games on the schedule, so the team is hoping to keep it up.
LSU will face Arkansas in Game 2 at 4 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Park.