McKenzie Redoutey hit her fifth home run of the season and Ali Kilponen tossed a three-hitter as the LSU softball team opened up Southeastern Conference play with a 9-1 win at South Carolina.
Kilponen (7-0) gave up a solo home run to Riley Blampied, but was rarely in trouble. Only one other runner reached third base against Kilponen, who struck seven, walked one and hit two batters.
LSU (21-1, 1-0) broke the game open scoring eight runs in the second and third innings.
The Tigers opened the second inning with five straight hits to chase South Carolina starting pitcher Rachel Vaughan. One of those hits was Redoutay’s three-run homer to centerfield.
Maci Bergeron, Taylor Pleasants and Raeleen Gutierrez all added RBI doubles before the at-bat was finished. In all, LSU sent 11 batters to the plate and collected seven hits, two by Pleasants.
LSU picked up two more runs in the third on Danieca Coffey’s RBI single and Pleasants’ sacrifice fly.
South Carolina (21-3) got a leadoff single from Aniyah Black in the bottom of the second. After a fielder’s choice and a fly ball out, Zoe Laneaux was thrown out trying to steal second.
Kilponen plunked Jen Cummings and Blampied to start the sixth inning. But she regained her composure and retired the next six batters she faced to close out the game.
LSU picked up its final run on Coffey’s RBI single in the seventh.
The Tigers, who came into the game fourth in the SEC with a .342 batting average, had 16 hits. Included in the total were six extra base hits.
Ali Newland and Gutierrez each had three hits as eight Tigers hit safely.
Vaughan (2-1), the first of four South Carolina pitchers, faced eight batters allowing five hits and four runs.
The teams continue their series with games at 3 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Monday.
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