Texas A&M softball’s Lexi Smith and Payton McBride combined to shutout No. 15 LSU, 6-0, in the series finale Sunday at Tiger Park.
Smith earned the start and labored through six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five to earn her eighth win of the season. Payton McBride earned the save, her fifth of the season, throwing just eight pitches in a scoreless seventh inning.
Texas A&M’s (37-12, 10-8 SEC) 2-3-4 hitters accounted for six of the team’s 10 hits as Sarah Hudek, Tori Vidales and Ashley Walters each went 2-for-4. Hudek scored twice and hit her sixth home run of the season. Riley Sartain drove in two runs for the Aggies on her team-leading 10th homer of the campaign.
LSU’s (35-11, 9-8 SEC) Maribeth Gorsuch suffered the loss, giving up two runs on five hits in 2.2 innings. Allie Walljasper came in relief and gave up three runs in three innings, while Carley Hoover closed out the game, giving up a run in 1.1 innings of work.
KEY INNINGS
T1 | Sarah Hudek smoked a single into right and advanced to second on her fourth stolen base of the season. Ashley Walters drove in Hudek on a two-out single to center on the first pitch of her at bat. A&M 1, LSU 0
T3 | Hudek launched her sixth home run of the season to center, doubling the Aggie lead. A&M 2, LSU 0
B5 | The Tigers threatened to score in the fifth, loading the bases on three walks, but Lexi Smith got out of the jam as Kristen Cuyos made a great play on a high bouncer for the third out. LSU 3, A&M 0
T6 | The Aggies added to the lead, scoring three runs with two outs. Riley Sartain blasted her team-leading 10th home run, scoring Kaitlyn Alderink, before Cuyos doubled home Kelbi Fortenberry. A&M 5, LSU 0
T7 | Texas A&M extended the lead as Tori Vidales singled home Keeli Milligan, who drew a four-pitch walk and stole her 26th stolen base of the season to move into scoring position. A&M 6, LSU 0
Top Offensive Players:
Sarah Hudek | 2-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI
Tori Vidales | 2-for-4, RBI
Ashley Walters | 2-for-4, RBI
Riley Sartain | 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, HBP
Kristen Cuyos | 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Lexi Smith | W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 SO
Payton McBride | S, 1.0 IP, 0 H, SO
AGGIE NOTES
Ashley Walters drove in her 157th career RBI, which ranks 7th all-time in program history
Kristen Cuyos recorded her 149th RBI and is ninth all-time in school history
ON DECK
The Aggies host the Auburn Tigers as Texas A&M unveils its state-of-the-art stadium, Davis Diamond. Friday’s opener is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.
