BATON ROUGE — The 14th-ranked LSU softball team opens the 2004 season on Friday against Centenary at 2 p.m. and Illinois at 6 p.m. as part of the three-day Tiger Classic tournament at Tiger Park this weekend.
Along with Centenary and Illinois, the Tigers also host No. 4 Oklahoma as part of the tournament, which begins on Friday at noon and concludes with the championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The tournament features round robin play on Friday and Saturday and concludes with bracket play on Sunday. Other action on Friday includes Oklahoma against Illinois at noon, Southeastern Louisiana against Oklahoma at 4 p.m. and Centenary against Southeastern Louisiana at 8 p.m.
“We are ready, excited and eager to begin play,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “This Tiger team is prepared and focused on the start of the season. We are welcoming some great competition to Tiger Park. This weekend should be one of tremendous collegiate softball competition.”
In Saturday’s action, the Tigers will face Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Cox Sports Television (Baton Rouge cable channel 37). LSU will then take on Southeastern Louisiana at 5:30 p.m.
Play begins on Saturday at 9 a.m. as Southeastern Louisiana takes on Illinois, followed by Centenary against Oklahoma at 11 a.m. Illinois will also play Centenary at 3:30 p.m. before bracket play begins at 7:30 p.m., as the No. 4 team and the No. 5 team battle for the fourth seed in Sunday’s action.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday as the second seed and the third seed play at 10 a.m., followed by the game between the top seed and the fourth seed at noon. The winners of the morning’s contests will play in the championship game at 2 p.m.
KLSU – 91.1 FM, LSU’s on-campus student radio station, will air the Tigers’ games against Illinois on Friday at 6 p.m. and against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The station will also broadcast the Tigers’ games in championship play on Sunday. Times for those games will be determined on Saturday.
Returning four position starters, including two All-Louisiana selections, and a two-time All-American pitcher from a 50-win team a year ago, the LSU softball team has tremendous potential this season. Along with the return of several key components from 2003, the Tigers have brought in six outstanding players that should make an immediate impact and compliment the eight returning letterwinners.
The strength of the LSU program will once again be in its pitching, but the Tigers will also have a more balanced offensive attack to provide the necessary run support. Coming off a power explosion last season that saw LSU hit a record 52 home runs and 99 doubles, the second most in school history, the Tigers return a large portion of that firepower this season as the team leader in doubles and the team leader in batting average both return this year. In addition, LSU will have more team speed and will have the ability to mix in a short game that keep the Tigers moving on the base path.
“I really like this team,” said Girouard. “It has tremendous potential. I say that because I see a side to them that is hard to see and that is the team chemistry. I think what is going to evolve is a team with heart and one that will find a way to make a situation right. In that process I envision a lot of wins this season.”
Since LSU reinstated its softball program in 1997, the Tigers are 16-1 all-time against the Tiger Classic field. LSU is 8-0 all-time against Centenary, 4-0 all-time against Southeastern Louisiana and 4-1 all-time against Oklahoma. This is the first meeting between LSU and Illinois.
During her 23-year career, Yvette Girouard is 96-4 against the tournament field. She is 36-1 against Centenary, 46-1 against Southeastern Louisiana and 14-2 against Oklahoma. This is her first meeting with Illinois.
2004 Tiger Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7
Noon Oklahoma vs. Illinois
2 p.m. LSU vs. Centenary
4 p.m. Southeastern La. vs. Oklahoma
6 p.m. Illinois vs. LSU
8 p.m. Centenary vs. Southeastern La.
Saturday, Feb.8
9 a.m. Southeastern La. vs. Illinois
11 a.m. Centenary vs. Oklahoma
1:30 p.m. Oklahoma vs. LSU
3:30 p.m. Illinois vs Centenary
5:30 p.m. LSU vs. Southeastern La.
7:30 p.m. No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed
Sunday, Feb. 9
10 a.m. No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed
Noon No. 1 seed vs. Winner from No. 4 seed playoff
2 p.m. Championship Game