Editor’s Note: The following is an official press release courtesy of LSU’s athletics department.
BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 11/12 LSU’s (33-7, 6-6 SEC) offense exploded with a six-run fourth inning to help secure the series over Missouri (23-18, 3-12 SEC) with a 9-1 run-rule decision Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park.
“They were awesome today,” said Head Coach Beth Torina. “It was a really good day for our offense. We played like ourselves. It’s a 56 game season, so expecting them to play perfect in all 56 games is very unrealistic. We had a bad day Thursday, but the key is to come back after a bad day, and our team was able to do that.”
All nine of LSU’s starters recorded at least one hit in the ball game while four different Tigers recorded two RBIs. This game also marks the Tigers 15th game of the season with 10 or more hits.
Graduate pitcher Ali Kilponen (10-4) earned the complete game win, throwing one strikeout and allowing one run on four hits in five innings.
Junior catcher Ali Newland had a day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and her third home run of the season. Junior designated player Georgia Clark launched her ninth homer of the season and second in the series, while tacking on two ribbies and two runs. Junior infielder Danieca Coffey and graduate infielder Karli Petty both pieced together one-hit, two-RBI performances in the afternoon.
Missouri’s senior pitcher Jordan Weber (6-7) picked up the loss. Weber threw one strikeout and allowed three runs on two hits and three walks in 1.0 innings. Freshman pitcher Taylor Pannell entered the game in the second and allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in 2.0 innings. Junior pitcher Laurin Krings came in relief in the fourth and threw one strikeout while letting up three runs on four hits.
LSU found the run column first with a two-run blast from Newland in the second inning. Junior infielder Raeleen Gutierrez reached on a walk before junior infielder Taylor Pleasants drove a single to right and both runners advanced on the throw. With runners on second and third, a walk by sophomore outfielder McKenzie Redoutey juiced the bases with no outs and two batters later, Mizzou walked a run home, giving LSU the early 3-0 lead.
Missouri cut into the lead with a leadoff homer in the top of the third off of junior outfielder Alex Honnold’s bat, but a pair of fly outs and a ground out kept the LSU lead intact, 3-1.
The Tigers’ offense exploded in the fourth with six runs behind seven hits, including six straight in the frame. The inning was highlighted by a one-run single from Coffey, a two-run double by Petty and a two RBI dinger from Clark.
With a chance to secure the run-rule, Kilponen retired the side in the top of the fifth, giving LSU the 9-1 victory.
On Deck
LSU will have a midweek game against the reigning National Champions, No. 1 Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 on ESPN2.
Directly support LSU Softball by joining the Diamondbackers today!
For the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the team on its social media outlets at www.facebook.com/lsusoftball and @lsusoftball on Instagram and Twitter.