The vantage point for LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard wasn't the most desirable. But the view from beyond the center-field wall couldn't have been better.
Girouard, who was thrown out at the conclusion of the third inning of Saturday's second game, watched her club score seven times in the bottom of the inning and Kristin Schmidt pitched a three-hit shutout to lead LSU to a Southeastern Conference sweep of No. 24 South Carolina 8-0 before a season-high 615 at Tiger Park.
All-America pitcher Britni Sneed tossed a two-hit, 14-strikeout masterpiece in the opening game and Trena Peel's bases-loaded triple turned a 2-0 lead into a 6-0 victory.
Peel's triple, her school-record 22nd, drove in Jennie Reeves to stop the game in the sixth inning to invoke the mercy rule. She finished with four RBIs in the sweep to recapture the team lead with 21 for the year.
"I probably said too much, but it's done and over," Girouard said. "But I've been thrown out six or seven times (in 22 years), but it looks like I have this reputation."
LSU (23-7, 8-2) tries for its second SEC series sweep of the season against South Carolina (21-10, 4-4) at 11 a.m. today.
The game will be broadcast by WJNH (107.3-FM). The Tigers remained a half game behind West-leading Alabama (25-11, 9-2), which swept Tennessee, 6-0, 3-2.
LSU scored 12 of its 14 runs in two innings in the doubleheader, while Sneed and Schmidt combined to allow eight hits, no walks with 21 strikeouts.
"We've been talking about picking up the intensity," Sneed said. "We know we have the talent and the coaching to win a national championship. But it's a matter of picking up the intensity and today we did that."
Schmidt (8-3) scattered three singles and allowed only more than one baserunner once in the sixth on an infield single and her own error. But Julie Wiese started a 5-3 double play to end the inning.
"Kristin's had a couple of shaky outings recently," Girouard said, "but she looked like she was in total command and the defense played well."
LSU batted around in the fourth after Girouard was thrown out to start the top half of the inning after arguing with the umpire between innings.
Pinch-hitter Tessa Lynman broke a scoreless tie, looping a single over the head of shortstop Amber Curtis to score pinch-runner Jessica Braggins. Wiese made it 2-0 when losing pitcher Stacey Johnson (6-5) walked Jennie Reeves with the bases loaded.
LSU took advantage of Johnson's wildness (three walks and a hit batsman), three passed balls and a pair of errors to put the game away.
Sneed's ninth shutout of the season and 41st of her career paved the way in the opener. Her 14 strikeouts marked the 10th time this season she's fanned 10 or more batters in a game.
Sneed was in complete control of the first game, retiring the first 14 batters she faced -- 10 by strikeout. Twenty-seven of the first 35 pitches she threw were strikes in the first 42/3 innings.
"I felt too loose in the bullpen, so on the walk to the field I told myself I had to get focused," said Sneed, whose no-hit bid ended with Meghan Cornett's single in the fifth inning. "I wanted to come out strong and hit my spots."
Sneed allowed one runner to reach third base after Danielle Quinones doubled just under the yellow home run line in left center-field on a full count. Pinch-runner Jodi Fittro was then sacrificed to third, but Sneed struck out Kim Evans and Amber Curtis looking to close out the threat.
LSU exploded against Megan Matthews (12-3) with five runs on four hits after two outs in the sixth inning. Aleshia Perry's single to shallow left field scored Wiese for a 2-0 lead that left the bases loaded.
Peel, hitless in two previous at bats, sent Matthews' 3-2 pitch into the left-center field gap that she turned into a triple that emptied the bases for a 5-0 advantage.
It was Matthews' first loss in seven games and the most runs she's allowed this season. She allowed eights hits, six runs (five earned), walked three and struck out five.
"It's all about attitude with this team," Girouard said. "When we're locked in, we're going to be tough to beat."
