BATON ROGUE — The 11th-ranked LSU softball team returns to Southeastern Conference action against Kentucky this weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at Tiger Park at 11 a.m.
The game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Network in Baton Rouge on WJNH-Jam’n 107.3 FM. Fans are encouraged to come out for “Kids Take Over the Park”. Lucky children will get a chance to work on the field crew, announce lineups and work with the promotions staff during the game.
The Tigers (30-11, 8-6 SEC) enter the series having won five of their last six games and four straight contests. Conversely, Kentucky (3-15, 1019 SEC) has lost 18 consecutive games dating back to a March 15 win over Ole Miss, its only SEC win of the year.
“This should be a great weekend to play softball,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We are glad to be home for an SEC series. This is our chance to make a move on the competition, but to do that we will need to play well. We hope the crowd will come out to support us.”
In 12 previous meetings, the Wildcats have never defeated LSU as the Tigers hold the 12-0 series advantage. In Tiger Park, LSU is 7-0 all-time against Kentucky, including six shutout victories, outscoring the Wildcats 38-2. Last season, the Tigers swept a three-game series at Kentucky, defeating the Wildcats, 1-0, 4-1 and 4-2 in eight innings.
Earlier in the week, the Tigers blanked Nicholls State, 2-0, in Thibodaux, La. Leigh Ann Danos went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI singles, while LaDonia Hughes scored both runs for the Tigers on a 1-for-2 performance. Danos improved her average on the season to .302, tied for the team lead. Hughes continues to lead the team and rank fifth in the SEC with 33 runs scored on the year.
Kristin Schmidt earned her eighth complete-game shutout of the season, improving to 18-9 on the year. She scattered just two hits and a walk while striking out eight batters. She currently ranks third in the SEC with a 0.92 earned run average and is second with 187 strikeouts.
Kentucky is led by Nikki Jones at the plate. The senior second baseman leads the team with a .368 batting average and eight doubles. Freshman Amy Kendall is the ace of the Wildcat staff. She holds a 6-17 record with a 4.54 ERA and 62 strikeouts.
The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday at 11 a.m. Cox Sports Television will broadcast the game live on Baton Rouge cable channel 38. The game will also be carried on the LSU Sports Network on WJNH-Jam’n 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge or on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to Sunday’s contest for “Bark in the Park”. A special area will be set up for fans and their pets along with plenty of canine-themed contests throughout the game.