BATON ROUGE — After tying the school record for most home wins in a season, the seventh-ranked LSU softball team is picked to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division in 2007 as the Tigers host two tournaments in addition to 21 games that are a fun and exciting experience for the whole family.
LSU opens the season at Tiger Park in the three-day Easton Tiger Classic beginning on Friday. The Tigers will face Missouri, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State and Centenary as part of the tournament. Two weeks later, LSU will also host the three-day Easton Tiger Classic beginning on Feb. 23. As part of that tournament, the Tigers will take on Southern Miss, Troy, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
In LSU’s first home non-tournament game, the Tigers will take on Louisiana-Monroe on Valentine’s Day at 6 p.m. Fans will be able to win great prizes throughout the contest with “Sweetheart Scratch Tickets” as part of Swinging Sweethearts Valentine’s Night.
For that game and all non-tournament games throughout the season, the softball team will be conducting a pre-game Advocate ball exchange. If you have a team or group interested in participating in the ball exchange, please contact Jenni Peters in the LSU Promotions Department at (225) 578-3917.
On Feb. 27, the Tigers will a doubleheader against Alcorn State beginning at 4 p.m. As part of Disco on the Diamond Day, fans can win LSU softball sweatshirts as part of a “Name that Disco Tune” game.
The Tigers will kick off their home schedule in March against McNeese State on the seventh at 6 p.m. For “Big Cat in the Hat Night”, LSU fans can celebrate Dr. Seuss’ “Cat in the Hat’s” 50th birthday with Mike the Tiger, LSU’s own big cat, and have a chance to win 100 red and white “Cat in the Hat” hats.
The following week, the Tigers will take on Texas-San Antonio on March 13 at 6 p.m. LSU will host ballpark bingo, always a fan favorite, during the game and fans will have a chance to win cash prizes.
In non-conference action against Southeastern Louisiana on April 11 at 6 p.m., Tiger fans are encouraged to wear gold for Student-Athlete Night. Those in attendance will have a chance to can win gold softball t-shirts and get autographs from their favorite LSU student-athletes.
The Tiger’s final non-conference home game of the season will be against cross-town rival Southern on April 17 at 6 p.m. LSU will celebrate “Jazz Night” against the Jaguars and a jazz ensemble will perform before the game on the Diamond Backer deck down the left field line.
Promotions included with SEC home series include “Pink Tool Belt Weekend” against Florida on March 17 and 18, where fans can catch pink LSU softball t-shirts throughout the weekend and Habitat for Humanity will giveaway pink tool belts.
One of the events Tiger softball fans have looked forward to is back again this season as LSU will host “Bark in the Park” weekend against nationally ranked Alabama on March 24 and 25. Dog owners are encouraged to bring their family friendly pets to the park on a leash all weekend. The first 100 dogs will receive free LSU “Geaux Dog Geaux” collars and an extreme canine stunt dog act will perform on Saturday between the two games of the doubleheader.
LSU faculty and staff are encouraged to come out and support the Tigers against Kentucky in a doubleheader on April 3 beginning at 4 p.m. Between the two games of the series, a VIP presentation will be made to very important professors. The first 200 fans will receive free LSU softball notepad and pen sets.
Teams will take over the park against South Carolina on April 6 and 7. Local teams who are interested in more information about the weekend can contact Jenni Peters in the LSU Promotions Department at (225) 578-3917. The first 500 fans will get free LSU softball team sports backpacks.
The Tigers will close out the 2007 regular season home schedule against nationally ranked Tennessee on April 28 and 29. LSU will celebrate Traditions Weekend as the Tigers honor their three seniors – Kristen Hobbs, Leslie Klein and Emily Turner – on Senior Day. The first 500 fans to Saturday’s doubleheader will receive LSU softball cookbooks.