No. 3 LSU run rules No. 10 South Carolina

In our biggest questions of the week, we asked if the Gamecocks would have enough pitching against the Tigers in Baton Rouge. After one game of the Top-10 series, the answer is no. No. 3 LSU run-ruled No. 10 South Carolina 11-3 in the series opener.

LSU doesn’t hit many home runs, but when they do, it’s typically Maci Bergeron and Tori Edwards. Both found a big blast. Bergeron lasered her eighth homer of the season in the first against South Carolina starter Nealy Lamb to put the Tigers up 3-0. Lamb exited without recording an out after McKenzie Redoutey’s RBI triple.

Edwards’ big swing came against Jori Heard. She blasted a sky-high grand slam, making Heard pay following a single and two walks. Edwards ended the game with five RBIs. She now has 49 this season.

The offense kept piling it on in the third inning. Edwards, Redoutey and Danieca Coffey all collected RBI singles versus Kadie Becker, who rode out the rest of the game for South Carolina. LSU has now scored 23 runs since losing to Georgia last Sunday.

Sydney Berzon improved to 14-1 this season, throwing all five innings. She cruised through the first four innings, only allowing two hits to South Carolina’s strong lineup. However, she did run into trouble in the fifth. The Gamecocks loaded the bases following a single and a pair of free passes. A sacrifice fly brought in the first run. Karley Shelton and Arianna Rodi hit two-out RBI singles to put the run-rule in danger. Berzon came back to finish up the win.

The Tigers will seek their third SEC series win on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. LSU will likely start freshman lefty Jayden Heavener (9-1, 1.76) against South Carolina’s projected starter Sam Gress (7-3, 3.00), who has been the team’s de facto ace the past few weeks.

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