No. 17 LSU softball breezed by UL-Lafayette for an 8-0 run-rule victory Tuesday.
The almost perfect night on both sides of the ball was headlined by Jayden Heavener’s second career no-hit performance.
LSU played much better offensively this go-around against UL, after the 2-1, 10-inning battle when the two faced off in the Purple and Gold Challenge. LSU recorded six hits to UL’s zero, showing how much the Tigers have improved offensively through this season.
The biggest storyline of the night was Heavener, though, who recorded LSU’s first no-hitter of the season, along with two strikeouts. She seems to be back to her best after also looking great against Arizona over the past weekend.
After neither team could get anything going in the first inning, LSU’s offense exploded in the second.
UL’s pitching got off to an awful start, as starter Julianne Tipton was pulled off the mound after letting the bases get loaded off three straight walks. Bethany Noble would replace the sophomore, but she proved no help.
LSU’s Destiny Harris started the scoring with a two-run single, which marked her seventh RBI of the season and her first since March 24 against Louisiana Tech.
On the next at-bat, Avery Hodge would do well adjusting to an awkward pitch to make contact and drive in another run despite a short groundout.
LSU then advanced another runner home on the third straight at-bat as Jaila Lassiter blasted a two-run homer into right-center field.
In a flash, LSU jumped up to a 5-0 lead, forcing UL to make more changes. Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Alyson Habetz chose to replace Noble with Sage Hoover, who was able to force two outs to end the poor defensive inning.
Heavner looked strong on the mound in UL’s second turn at bat, forcing a quick 1-2-3 out inning.
It would not take LSU’s offense long to get going in the third, as Maci Bergeron’s unusual catcher replacement, Char Lorenz, would hit a single. Allie Hutchins then followed that up by getting on base off a walk before UL was able to slow down LSU by forcing two outs.
Despite the outs, LSU kept on applying the pressure and eventually drove in another run off a bad pitch, which hit Sierra Daniel. Luckily for the Cajuns, that was all they’d give up in the third as Daniel was caught out at second base.
UL would try to get things going in the third, but Heavener stayed perfect and again forced three quick outs.
LSU once again dominated the next inning, as Franklin was walked on the first at-bat. Two batters later, Lorenz hit a two-run homer down the left field line, giving LSU enough of a lead to force a run-rule if UL failed to score in the fifth.
After the run, the Tigers seemed to take their foot off the gas, as UL forced two straight outs to end that half of the inning.
LSU’s defense did not let up in the fourth, though, as Heavener forced another no-hit inning off two flyouts and a groundout. That would mark 10 straight batters retired by Heavener.
LSU only got one hit in the fifth inning off a Rylie Johnson single, before UL forced three straight outs.
Now, LSU only needed to hold the Ragin’ Cajuns scoreless through the inning to end the contest early, and Heavener would refuse to slow down. She’d again force three straight outs off two flyouts and a strikeout, giving LSU the easy 8-0 win.
Now, the team looks toward the weekend, where it’ll start the series against Ole Miss on Friday at 6 p.m.
