BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball moved up two spots in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll from No. 8 to a sixth-place tie with Arizona State. The new poll was released Wednesday morning.
“Anytime you move up in the polls you have to be excited,” said LSU softball head coach Yvette Girouard. “I felt we would because we have played so well to this point and considering who we beat early on. Now the challenge is to continue with the success we have had so far.”
The Tigers’ jump in the polls follows an 11-1 start, the best in school history. LSU is riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
LSU defeated Washington, 14-2, in the season opener at the Fiesta Bowl Classic hosted by Arizona State. The Huskies dropped from their pre-season ranking of fourth to 10th. Junior pitcher Britni Sneed struck out nine Husky batters, and freshman Julie Wiese hit a home run in her first career at bat.
LSU’s next game was a classic pitching duel between Sneed and Arizona State’s Kirsten Voak, with the Tigers taking a 4-2 extra-inning win over the Sun Devils. With the score tied at zero, Trena Peel broke through in the top of the sixth with a solo home run that was answered by a shot from Arizona State in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Christy Connor came through for the Tigers in the top of the eighth with a two run home run to give the LSU the win.
This weekend’s tournament includes 24 teams, 15 of which are ranked in the Top 25.