The LSU softball team clinched the Southeastern Conference Western Division Title on Saturday, splitting a double header with the University of Auburn at Tiger Park.
    Losing the first game 2-1, LSU (44-8, 20-5 SEC) bounced back to trounce the Auburn Tigers in the second game, 11-0.
    Coach Yvette Girouard said it was just a matter of coming back and battling in the second game.
    ”I told them we didn’t do a very good job of coaching in the first game and to bounce back in the second game,” Girouard said. “I asked them to only do what they could do. We were motivated and prepared today, but we tried to make too many things happen.”
    Auburn (35-13, 16-10 SEC), now 4 1/2 games behind LSU, managed to snap LSU’s 16-game winning streak with its win on Saturday.
    In the first game, LSU earned itself the loss with three errors, despite senior All-American Kristin Scmidt allowing just two unearned runs with one hit and eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
    Girouard said it was a tough loss for Schmidt to take.
    ”What a tough loss for Schmidt, allowing just one hit,” Girouard said. “I thought we should have made the play. Again, we were just trying to create too many things.”
    Going scoreless in the first three innings, Auburn jumped on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, following two errors by LSU.
    Leadoff hitter Kristina McCain reached on an error by Schmidt. McCain then reached second on an error by shortstop Lauren Delahoussaye, allowing batter Shannon Anderson to reach first on a fielder’s choice. Following a double steal, Auburn’s Ashley Griffin knocked in both runners with a hit to right field, giving Auburn a 2-0 lead.
    LSU bounced back with a Camille Harris home run in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to 2-1, yet failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position in the sixth.
    With the win, Auburn’s Kristen Reyes improved her record to 21-9 on the year, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
    Schmidt dropped to 26-4 on the season with the loss.
    The Tigers bounced back in the second game, earning its seventh SEC West title in eight years.
    Girouard said it was a good turnaround from last season.
    ”We won nothing last year and we’ve already won a few things this year,” Girouard said. “Obviously we want the big prize, but we have to take it one game at a time.”
    Following a hit in the top of the first inning, freshman pitcher Emily Turner retired the next 14 batters in earning the complete-game shutout, improving her record to 17-3 on the year.
    Team captain Julie Wiese put LSU on the board first in the second inning, launching her seventh home run of the year.
    Wiese managed to rebound from last weekend’s series at Ole Miss, in which she fouled a ball off her face, requiring 30 stitches.
    LSU then blew the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs after Sara Fitzgerald singled up the middle with the bases loaded.
    It was a big hit for Fitzgerald after working a full count and fouling off five straight pitches, as well as battling a downpour of rain.
    ”Sara battled and battled and battled,” Girouard said. “They very easily could have pulled the tarp at that time but they didn’t and we got this one in.”
    Harris added the finishing touches with a fifth inning grand slam, giving LSU a commanding 11-0 lead.