No. 20 LSU softball beat in-state rivals McNeese 16-0 after a complete domination, headlined by 12 batters driving in a run.
This marks the second time the Tigers eclipsed 15 runs this season, their first since the 16-4 win against Missouri on April 28.
It’s the second time the Tigers have beaten McNeese this season, after the 9-3 win at the Purple and Gold Challenge.
LSU dominated every moment of the game, especially in the early stages, recording 12 runs and nine hits through the first two innings.
All but one LSU batter was able to get a hit, with Destiny Harris, Jaila Lassiter, Maci Bergeron, and Char Lorenz combining for 10 runs.
Cece Cellura, Cali Deal, and Ashlin Mowery split the pitching responsibilities this contest, with all three having great nights. Cellura only allowed one hit through three innings, while the others pitched two innings and wouldn’t let up a hit.
In the first inning, Cellura was perfect, forcing a quick 1-2-3 out inning.
On LSU’s first turn at bat, it quickly got runners on base.
Lassiter started the inning by getting hit by a pitch and eventually reached second after a wild pitch. Sierra Daniel and Kylee Edwards then followed up with singles to load up the bases.
A wild pitch would send Lassiter home for the first score, shortly before Tori Edwards was walked, reloading the bases. Bergeron then hit a single to advance Daniel home, but gave up an out at second during the play.
Lorenz then broke a 0-13 hitting slump with a single into right field, sending Kylee Edwards home for the third run of the inning.
The Cowgirls made a pitcher change after the scores, replacing Taylor Brookelyn with Alexis Dibbley, but the change wouldn’t work as planned. A Harris single sent Bergeron home, taking the score to 4-0.
In the second, some great defense on the left side by Avery Hodge and Kylee Edwards helped hold McNeese to another scoreless inning.
LSU then rolled back out with its third walk of the contest to Daniel. Alix Franklin followed by smashing a single through center field, putting runners at the corners.
Another McNeese mistake led to an LSU run, as a third wild pitch allowed another easy score for Daniel.
LSU’s next batter, Bergeron, then recorded another RBI with a two-run single into left field.
LSU kept on dominating the second inning, as Lorenz hit another single to send Tori Edwards home, followed by a Harris two-run double, advancing the score to 9-0.
Again, the Tigers scored soon after Harris beat the throw home off a Hodge single. Lassiter then added insult to injury for McNeese as she smashed a homer into left field to go up 12-0.
With not much left to play for, McNeese was able to record its first hit with a single. That would be all it’d get, though, as Cellura forced a groundout to end the half inning.
In contrast to the previous two innings, LSU was held hitless in the third by some solid plays by McNese’s defense.
LSU’s defense then continued its hot streak, forcing its third hitless inning in the fourth, making the run-rule seem inevitable.
Harris started the LSU offense in the fourth with a single, before she was sent to third after a Rylie Johnson double. Harris then got her third run of the contest after Lassiter’s sacrifice fly.
Jada Phillips was next up, smashed in her first career RBI with a one-run single.
Phillips then got sent home off a Kylee Edwards double hit deep into left-center field, raising the lead to 15.
Gradie Appling got the second hit of her Tiger career with a single, and Tori Edwards was able to send Kylee Edwards home from third base.
The fourth inning ended with a popout, leaving the Tiger defense with the easy task of holding them from getting nine runs in the fifth to end the contest early.
LSU’s defense was up for the task and ended the matchup with two flyouts.
LSU will now try to carry the momentum over to Thursday, when it faces Auburn at 6 p.m.
