Sophomore Emily Turner allowed three hits and no runs on Sunday as the LSU softball team rolled past the Florida Gators 10-0 at Florida Softball Stadium.
With the win, LSU (30-18, 12-15 Southeastern Conference) has now won three in a row to complete the weekend sweep.
“This was a great weekend for the Tigers,” coach Yvette Girouard said. “Emily was in control the whole way. Our offense exploded.”
LSU’s offense got started in the top of the first inning when leadoff hitter Camille Harris was hit by a pitch. Two consecutive singles by Lauren Castle and Stephanie Hill scored Harris to give LSU a 1-0 lead.
With runners on first and second, sophomore Leslie Klein walked to load the bases.
LSU notched another run in its next at bat when freshman Vanessa Soto was walked, scoring Castle and putting LSU up 2-0.
Freshman Quinlan Duhon added one more run in the inning after a sacrifice fly with one out, which scored pinch-runner Heidi Robin and gave LSU a 3-0 lead.
LSU was then held in check until the seventh inning when Klein and Soto got things started with consecutive singles. Following an infield groundout by Lauren Delahoussaye to advance the runners, Duhon was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Freshman Andrea Smith then hit into a fielder’s choice, yet Florida was unable to get the out after catcher Michelle Diaz dropped the ball to score Klein and give LSU a four run advantage.
Freshman Killian Roessner capitalized on the error with a three-run double to left-center field.
Two consecutive singles by Castle and Hill scored one more run to give LSU an 8-0 lead.
Klein then capped off the inning with a double to left-center field, which scored Castle and Hill and put LSU up 10-0.
Turner got the win after pitching seven innings and striking out one.
“It was exciting to see Leslie Klein’s bat come alive,” Girouard said. “Lauren Castle broke through because she has been struggling. Killian Roessner came through with a huge double and Vanessa Soto had a great weekend.”
In the second game of the series on Saturday, Turner went the distance once again as the sophomore pitched seven innings and allowed no runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in the 3-0 win.
LSU got on the board in the third inning as Harris and Castle led off with consecutive singles to put runners at first and second.
One out later with Castle on second following a fielder’s choice, Soto knocked a single up the middle, scoring Castle and giving LSU the 1-0 lead.
Klein then singled to the left side to score Hill and give LSU the 2-0 lead.
LSU added one more run in the top of the sixth after a sacrifice fly by Duhon scored Henderson from third and gave LSU a 3-0 lead.
In the first game of the series, Turner and freshman Megan Jolly combined to pitch seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in LSU’s 4-3 win.
Klein went 2 for 3 in the contest with one RBI.
“It was timely hitting for us today,” Girouard said after game two on Saturday. “We played good defense when we had to and made some good pitches when we needed to.”