LAS VEGAS — The fifth-ranked LSU softball team opens the 2005 season on Friday against UCF at 5 p.m. (CT) and No. 8 Washington at 7:30 p.m. (CT) at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in the UNLV Desert Classic.
Along with the Golden Knights and the Huskies, the Tigers will also take on Illinois and Louisville, which are both receiving votes in the poll, to conclude tournament play on Saturday.
“I think it will be good for our young players to open up on the road this season,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Playing against such good competition on the road to start will definitely test our team, but I think it will be good for later in the year. We start the SEC schedule on the road so it will be good for us to learn to play well on the road quickly.”
After winning the Southeastern Conference Championship, the SEC Tournament title and advancing to the Women’s College World Series last season, LSU returns four All-South Region selections and an All-WCWS tournament selection. The Tigers also add nine newcomers, including a pair that will start in the middle infield and one that will start the season in the outfield.
“We have nine freshmen on this year’s team, which is the majority of this year’s numbers,” said Girouard. “So, you are talking about youth, youth, youth. We might be very, very young, but we’ve got that intangible. We have team chemistry, and we have it immediately.”
The Tigers are 8-0 all-time in season openers, including a 1-0 record on the road. LSU’s only season opener on the road was a 14-2 win over Washington in Tempe, Ariz., in 2001. The Tigers have outscored opponents 88-3 in their season openers and have recorded six shutouts.
In three previous appearances in the UNLV Desert Classic, LSU is 10-4 all-time. Last season, the Tigers posted a 3-1 record with a pair of run-rule wins and their lone loss to nationally ranked California.
This will be the first meeting between LSU and both UCF and Louisville. The Tigers are 3-5 all-time against Washington, but have won the last two meetings, including a 4-3 decision last year at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. LSU is 2-1 all-time against Illinois, splitting a pair of games at Tiger Park in the Tiger Classic to open the 2004 season before defeating the Illini in the NCAA Regional championship game to advance the Women’s College World Series.
The Tigers will open the home schedule next weekend in the Tiger Classic. LSU will host Indiana, Southern and Grambling in the three-day tournament.