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Softball Takes Two-of-Three From Kentucky

LSU improves to 13-5 in SEC play

By Saltzman
via @LSUSoftball

It was No.5 LSU’s pitching that came through in LSU’s sixth consecutive SEC series win, with the staff holding the No. 24 Wildcats to just five runs over three games.

Arguably the top performance of the weekend was Shelby Wickersham’s complete game shutout, allowing four hits, two walks and striking out five in the 5-0 victory. Shelbi Sunseri also had a strong weekend. She took the circle for the the rubber match and pitched seven innings allowing two runs and striking out six, as LSU went on to win 5-2. Sunseri also made a relief appearance on Friday with 2.2 innings striking out four and allowing just a hit. The hard luck loser on the weekend was Maribeth Gorsuch, who logged 4.1 innings in allowing three runs on six walks, with UK securing the series opener 3-2. Gorsuch did however pitch well in the midweek 4-0 win against McNeese, tossing a complete game one-hitter with three strikeouts.

LSU’s offensive MVP this weekend would be Shemiah Sanchez. The senior hit two, two-run home runs in the finale, going three-for-seven on the weekend with four total RBI. Elyse Thornhill also had a home run in the finale. Sunseri and Savannah Stewart each had two hits on the weekend. Aliyah Andrews scored twice in the series and stole two bases. She also went three-for-three with a run against McNeese.

Even with a subdued offensive weekend, the Tigers still rank at the top or near the top of the SEC in most offensive areas. The strong pitching over the weekend moved the Tiger staff up to No.5 in the SEC in team pitching.

Entering the final three week’s of the season, the Tigers are in second place, one down in the loss column to Alabama but with two more wins. On paper Alabama has the tougher schedule with three series to go against ranked No.9 Florida, No. 24 Kentucky and No. 5 LSU, with the first and last of those series being on the road. The other team in the mix for the regular season title is Tennessee which has two ranked series with No. 19 Georgia and No.15 Ole Miss.

LSU would appear to have the easiest path of the three teams. Before Alabama in the finale, LSU has a three-game set against Arkansas beginning Thursday, followed by three games versus a sub-.500 Baylor team. Although Arkansas and Baylor figure to be challenging, with both being away from Tiger Park, LSU has gone 8-2 in true road games this season and a combined 11-4 in away and neutral site games.