It was a dominant weekend for the No. 4 LSU softball team with the Tigers outsourcing their opponents a combined 41-3, en route to a four-game sweep of the LSU Round Robin.
LSU’s success on offense started at the top with Aliyah Andrews, who had multiple hits in each of the four games, pushing her hit streak to 14 consecutive games. Overall she went 8-of-14 over the weekend, with seven runs scored, and four RBI. When Andrews stole second in the Saturday matchup against Campbell she recorded her 114th career stolen base, putting her second on the program’s all-time steals list, passing Dee Dee Henderson. The Tigers’ record holder is Dee Dougle with 155. Andrews currently leads the SEC with 16 steals.
Senior @andrews_aliyah is now second in program history in career stolen bases with 114.
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) March 7, 2020
She passes Dee Dee Henderson who finished her career with 113 from 2005-2008. #TakeTheLead pic.twitter.com/x0gq96whNc
Fellow senior Amanda Doyle had a strong weekend going 4-for-10 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. Shelbi Sunseri continued her return to form after a slow start, posting an RBI in each of the four games.
Bunt? Ya, nah it's a #DoyleDinger
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) March 7, 2020
: https://t.co/0hu6T4djT0 #TakeTheLead pic.twitter.com/Q0OOzTev6R
Georgia Clark and Morgan Cummins went back-to-back in the second inning of the Tigers’ 21-0 run-rule victory over Campbell. The 21 runs scored set the record for most runs scored in Tiger Park and second most in program history for a single game. The previous mark for most runs scored in Tiger Park was 20, set just a few weeks ago on February 22 against Sam Houston State. LSU’s 20 total RBI in the game ties the program record for second most in a single game.
After losing Taylor Tidwell to a dislocated shoulder a week ago, it looks like Anna Jones will be starting at second for the time being. The freshman, who started three games over the weekend, went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two run scored.
Freshman Taylor Pleasants had five RBI over the weekend, including her third home run of the season, and walked a total of seven times.
You Can Pucker Up & Kiss That Baby Goodbye
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) March 7, 2020
: https://t.co/gLym8hQ340 #TakeTheLead pic.twitter.com/BrzASxDgAD
In the circle, the SEC’s best pitching staff stayed true to form. The best start came from Ali Kilponen who had a complete game, 15-strikeout performance in the 5-1 win over Campbell. Kilponen is second in the SEC in ERA at .45 and opponents batting average .100. The SEC leader in both ERA (.40) and opponents batting average is teammate Shelby Wickersham, who also tossed a complete game while allowing one run on three hits, three walks, and striking out six in the 5-1 over Illinois State.
Sophomore @AliKilponen had a day in the circle with a career best 15 Ks! #TakeTheLead pic.twitter.com/SiwPKyyipC
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) March 7, 2020
LSU’s veteran hurlers were also effective over the weekend. Sunseri had four shutout innings with four strikeouts in Friday’s 21-0 victory. Maribeth Gorsuch got the ball for the finale and struck out six in six innings of action in the 9-1 run-rule win over Illinois State.
Wins aside, this was a very encouraging weekend for the upperclassmen in the Tiger lineup, with SEC series beginning next weekend.
The Tigers host South Alabama Tuesday night before the first true road series of the year in Columbia at South Carolina.