Sophomore Leslie Klein went 3 for 4 Wednesday night as the LSU softball team erased a five-run deficit to defeat Nicholls State 10-6 in Thibodaux.
With the win, LSU (23-15) has now won six of its last eight games.
“This team showed tremendous fight tonight,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “I am extremely proud of their courage and heart. We got to rest a couple of people for this weekend like we had intended and it all worked out well for us.”
Junior Camille Harris got things started quickly for LSU in the top of the first inning, getting on base after being hit by a pitch. First-baseman Stephanie Hill then earned the RBI, singling up the middle to give LSU the 1-0 lead.
Nicholls State responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs, giving the Lady Colonels a 4-1 lead.
Starter Tiffany Garcia was replaced by freshman Megan Jolly the following inning after Garcia walked leadoff hitter Kathryn Harrel. Three consecutive singles then gave the Lady Colonels two more runs to put LSU down 6-1.
LSU’s rally began in the third after freshman Vanessa Soto began the inning with a single to left field. Freshman Dee Dee Henderson then pinch-ran for Soto at first base. Consecutive singles by Klein and Lauren Delahoussaye scored Henderson to put the score at 6-2.
LSU took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Freshman Andrea Smith led off with a single to center field. With one out, Harris was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to put runners at first and second. Lauren Castle then blasted a double to right-center field, scoring both runners. A double by Soto in the next at bat scored Castle and put LSU down 6-5.
A walk to Hill and a single by Klein then loaded the bases for Delahoussaye, who singled to score Soto and tied the game. Freshman Quinlan Duhon was then walked, giving LSU the 7-6 lead. Catcher Killian Roessner then singled through the left side to score Klein. LSU put the nail in the coffin after a wild pitch, scoring Delahoussaye from third base. A wild throw by the catcher then allowed Duhon to score, putting LSU up 10-6.
Jolly took the win, allowing one run on seven hits in six innings of work.
“Megan Jolly looked like the old Megan Jolly tonight,” Girouard said. “She came out and kept Nicholls in check and allowed us to come back and win the game.”
Nicholls’ starter Nichole Wagner took the loss, going 3.1 innings and giving up nine runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.