LSU’s softball team put on a record-setting show of force on Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, crushing SEC rival Auburn, 25-0, in a 5-inning whitewash that was only the first game of a doubleheader.
But before the Tigers faced the other Tigers in Game 2 on Saturday, it was the LSU Tigers who had all the fun in scoring their most runs in an SEC game in program history. On the flip side, it was the worst loss in Auburn’s proud softball history and dropped the Tigers to 25-26.
Auburn is now in danger of missing postseason play for the first time since 2013. Meanwhile, LSU snuck its SEC record over .500 at 12-11 with the blowout victory while improving to 36-16 overall. LSU won Thursday’s series opener in way more normal fashion, 3-0, and went for the weekend sweep in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The 20th-ranked Tigers also set a program record in Saturday’s opener for hits in a game with 24, punishing 5 Auburn pitchers along the way to the record books.
Alix Franklin was the headliner in the offensive showcase for LSU, belting her first career grand slam, while Jayden Heavener was stellar on the mound, throwing her fourth shutout.
The onslaught started early on Saturday, with LSU putting up 8 runs in the first inning. Maci Bergeron and Jalia Lassiter each smacked 2-run doubles.
The Tigers tacked on 7 runs in the third inning, with Franklin blasting her fourth home run of the season with the bases loaded.
Heavener improved to 12-7 on the season, tossing LSU’s third consecutive shutout and its 10th this season. She struck out 5 Auburn batters in a masterful performance, and she certainly got plenty of run support.
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Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
