LSU rebounded from a rough weekend series against Tennessee by collecting 12 hits in a 6-2 victory against McNeese State at Tiger Park on Tuesday.
Playing its third consecutive game without All-American shortstop Taylor Pleasants, No. 15 LSU (24-5) scored four runs in the fourth inning to take control.
Danieca Coffey had three hits, including a triple, and Ciara Briggs keyed the decisive inning with a two-run single.
The 12 hits doubled LSU’s hit total in the three-game sweep by No. 5 Tennessee.
“It felt better, definitely felt better,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “It felt good to get back at it continuing to hit the ball hard and get them some confidence back doing it.”
Torina said Pleasnats, out with a core muscle issue, will be reevaluated this week.
LSU pitcher Raelin Chaffin improved to 3-1 with her first complete game of the year. Chaffin, a sophomore from Bossier City, gave up five hits and struck out two without allowing a walk.
“I’ve been putting in work in the bullpen and I’ve had some good chances in games, but to finish it felt nice,” Chaffin said. “I always want to be better. We changed my motion yesterday, an off day. I tried it and my side-to-side was really good. I still have stuff to work on with up and down.”
LSU jumped ahead with two runs in the first inning. Coffey led off by beating out a hard grounder to the pitcher and stole second. One out later, Ali Newland brought her home with a single to left. Newland moved to second on a single by Georgia Clark and scored on a base hit by Karli Petty.
LSU could have had more but Clark was thrown out at the plate on a base hit to right field by McKenzie Redoutey.
McNeese (19-10) didn’t back down, tying the game with single runs in the third and fourth. Erin Ardoin doubled and scored on a single by Alayis Seneca off Chaffin. Mariana Torres tied it with a solo home run to left-center field into the wind.
LSU went back on top in its half of the fourth, knocking out starter Whitney Tate in the process. Redoutey doubled with one out and scored on a single by Maci Bergeron. Lindsay Davis replaced Tate and allowed singles to McKaela Walker and Coffey to load the bases for Briggs, who singled up the middle to drive in two.
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