Johnson Shutout Leads Bison Softball to Split at LSU Purple & Gold Challenge

BATON ROGUE, La.--Whitney Johnson pitched a three-hit shutout to lead North Dakota State to a 4-0 win over the Memphis, while host and 10th-ranked LSU powered to a 9-0 win over the Bison on Friday, Feb. 15, during the first day of the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park.

North Dakota State (2-5) is scheduled to play Nicholls State (2-1) at 9:30 a.m. and Virginia (3-1) at noon Saturday, Feb. 16. The Cavaliers are playing LSU in Friday's final game.

Johnson (1-2) struck out nine, walked four and scattered three hits to record her 26th career shutout against Memphis (1-5).

Memphis pitcher Sara Pearson (1-1) flirted with a no-hitter until the sixth inning when the Bison erupted for four runs. Katie Soukup and Logan Moreland led off with walks, and moved up a base on Presley Glaser's sacrifice bunt.

Cheyene Garcia singled down the left field line to drive home Soukup, while Moreland scored on a wild pitch. Maritza Lopez-Portillo delivered an RBI single, while an Alyssa Reina ground out chase across another run.

LSU (6-1) raced out to a 4-0 in lead in the first inning and finished with 11 hits against North Dakota State in the second game

Allison Falcon went 2-for-2 including a three-run home run in the first inning, while Katie Guillory hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Rikki Alcaraz added a two-run double for the Tigers.

Rachele Fico tossed a one-hitter for LSU, limiting NDSU to a Cheyenne Garcia infield single to lead off the fourth inning. Fico struck out eight and need only 61 pitches.

Krista Menke (1-3) picked up the loss for the Bison. Menke walked three and struck out two.