Softball Tops Baylor in Final Road Series

In what has been a prolific offensive season for the Tigers, the weekend’s series victory over Baylor saw LSU break a program record for home runs in as season with 66.

The record breaking home run came in clutch fashion, with Shelbi Sunseri hitting her 15th home run of the year, a two-run shot with the game tied at two in the top of the 6th inning, in what proved to be the difference in the 4-2 victory. A game earlier Sunseri’s home run, a solo blast, tied the record in LSU’s 2-0 victory, a game in which Sunseri also tossed a seven inning shutout with two strikeouts.

Amanda Sanchez homered and picked up two RBI on the weekend. Savannah Stewart had three hits and scored twice in the three game set. Elyse Thornhill had a good day in the midweek game against ULM, with two hits, two RBI, and a solo home run in LSU’s 8-0 win. Amber Serrett and Stewart each had two hits in the game.

After a rocky outing the previous weekend, the Tiger pitching staff had a solid bounce-back performance against the Bears. In addition to her seven innings pitched in the opener, Sunseri pitched 3.2 shutout innings in relief of Maribeth Gorsuch in game two. Gorsuch opened the game going three plus innings allowing two runs on three hits and four walks. Earlier in the week, Gorsuch picked up the win against ULM with a five inning shutout. In the finale it was another tough outing for Shelby Wickersham, with the freshman allowing five runs and not making it through two innings. It was the second straight game Wickersham has allowed five runs. Sunseri and Kilponen finished out the game, keeping Baylor off the scoreboard in the Bears 5-1 win.

As of Monday morning the Tigers can still win the SEC regular season. Alabama dropped the opener against Kentucky, meaning LSU would simply need to win the final series against Alabama to overtake the Tide in the standings. The team to look out for are the Rebels who are tied with the Tigers with seven conference losses, but the Tigers have one more win against SEC teams. A series win against Bama and Ole Miss winning no more than two games in its series against Georgia, will give LSU the regular season title.

The regular season finale begins Friday at 6 PM.