The No. 3 LSU softball team earned its 16th straight victory on Thursday as the Tigers snuck past Mississippi State 5-4 at Tiger Park.
LSU (21-3) completed the sweep of MSU to begin conference play at 3-0.
With the win, freshman Emily Turner earned her ninth victory of the season.
“I did my job,” Turner said. “I put the pitches where they needed to be and let the defense handle the rest of the work.”
Senior Kristin Schmidt, who got the start, pitched just three innings, giving up four runs and six hits with four strikeouts.
Turner relieved Schmidt in the fourth inning, pitching four innings and giving up just one hit.
Coach Yvette Girouard said a team such as Mississippi State can cause difficulty for a pitcher.
“I think Mississippi State always presents problems,” Girouard said. “They’re a good change-up hitting team, so it takes away one of [Schmidt’s] weapons.”
LSU jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning on Stephanie Hill’s sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Lauren Castle.
MSU struck back the next inning as Blaire Brown singled to center, scoring Jennifer Waterman.
After putting up two more runs in the bottom of the second, MSU got three runs in the third inning, jumping ahead of LSU 4-3.
LSU’s Ladonia Hughes then tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Leigh Ann Danos on an error by Waterman.
With the score tied at four in the sixth inning, Danos, who went 3-for-3 with a home run, knocked in the winning run with a one out single, scoring Sara Fitzgerald.
Girouard said that, aside from the close game, a win is a win.
“When it comes to Mississippi State, it’s never pretty,” Girouard said. “But I’ll take the three wins.”
MSU’s 2003 SEC Player of the Year Iyhia McMichael was held to just two hits in the series, going 2-for-9 with three RBIs.
Girouard said that, although she didn’t hit well, McMichael can beat you in more than one way.
“She’s too good of a player to shut down completely,” Girouard said. “She saved probably four or five runs with her play in the outfield.”
Hughes, who went 5-for-11 in the series, said that Turner played a big role in the win.
“Emily did a great job coming in and helping Schmidt out,” Hughes said. “That’s what it’s about — teamwork. One pitcher’s not pitching, the other one’s got to come in and get the job done.”
With the win, Turner said she is gaining more confidence on the mound.
“I’m pretty pumped about the way that I’m pitching now,” Turner said. “I’m feeling more relaxed out on the mound, which is a good thing.”
Turner added that there are also some things she would like to improve on.
“I’m still working on the 0-2 pitch,” Turner said. “I need a couple of strikeouts here and there, so that’s what I’m going to be working on for next week.”