After beating South Carolina 9-0 and 1-0 in Saturday’s doubleheader, the No. 11-ranked LSU softball team completed the series sweep Sunday with an 8-0 win.
Sunday’s win was the second game of the series stopped in the fifth inning due to the run-rule. The Tigers swept their third series of the year and also extended their winning streak to 10 games.
“This was certainly a team that we felt coming in that we needed to sweep,” coach Yvette Girouard said. “We certainly thought on paper that we were the better ball club. We
challenged our team early on, and we got the job done.”
The Tigers stepped up to the early challenge Sunday as they scored three quick runs in the bottom of the first inning. The inning was capped off with a two-out, three-run home run by senior Lauren Delahoussaye.
“I thought we were just a phenomenal in the first inning,” Girouard said. “Parts of the game are really coming together for us right now.”
Delahoussaye led LSU with a career-best four RBI and hit her second home run of the season. Her RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, expanded the Tigers lead to 7-0 before Andrea Smith’s sacrifice fly sealed the game.
Emily Turner led the Tigers to their 14th run-rule victory of the season, throwing a two-hit shutout. With the win, Turner won her sixth consecutive start.
“I thought Emily did a fantastic job all weekend,” Girouard said. “She is becoming the complete pitcher. Not only is she physically gifted, but she understands how to pitch now instead of just throwing the ball.”
The Gamecocks (22-17, 2-10) lost their fifth-straight game and continued to struggle in Southeastern Conference play, which Girouard said she could relate to.
“They looked a little down, but I know how that feels.” Girouard said of the Gamecocks “We kind of went through that last year. They’re struggling, and I think when it goes bad, it all goes bad.”
 
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