April 2, 2006
BATON ROUGE, La. – The 11th-ranked LSU Tigers exploded with a six-run first to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 8-0 and record the three-game sweep. USC falls to 22-17, 2-10 in the SEC and LSU improves to 35-5 and 10-2. The Gamecocks recorded two hits by McKenna Hughes and Chrissy Schoonmaker as Emily Turner (14-2) picked up the victory for the Tigers.
Kate Pouliot (3-4) took the loss as she gave up three runs on two hits after facing three batters. Lauren Delahoussaye went 2-for-3 with four RBI for the Tigers.
LSU attacked early as they scored six runs in the first inning to establish a healthy lead. The Tigers batted through the lineup, which included a two-out, three-run home run by Delahoussaye to give LSU the 6-0 lead. LSU failed to re-enter Lauren Castle after she had a pinch runner during her first at bat and that gave USC the third out of the inning.
The Tigers scored their six runs on four hits and two Gamecock errors. Castle and Camille Harris led off with back-to-back singles as Harris’ hit drove in Castle for the first run of the game. Vanessa Soto reached on a throwing error by starting pitcher Kate Pouliot with no outs. The Gamecocks then changed pitchers and brought in Christie Hamilton. Hamilton was able to get two outs before Delahousssaye hit her second home run of the season.
South Carolina appeared to have found their bats when they came out with two hits in the top of the first. With two outs, Hughes slammed a single to left field and Schoonmaker followed with a hard double down the third base line. The bats would soon cease again as Turner got the final out of the inning with a strikeout and she would contain the Gamecocks retire the remaining 13 batters, including seven strikeouts.
LSU scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the run-rule victory, the second of the series. Hamilton pitched 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on six hits with just two strikeouts.
The Gamecocks return home to host Georgia on April 5-6.
