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Softball Takes on USC in Tourney; Five All-SEC

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
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Softball Takes on USC in Tourney; Five All-SEC

AUBURN, Ala. — Pitcher Dani Hofer earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors, while four other Tigers earned league awards as the second-seeded LSU softball team opens SEC tournament play on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. against seventh-seeded South Carolina at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.

In addition to Hofer, catcher Killian Roessner and outfielders Leslie Klein and Jazz Jackson were named to the All-SEC second team and Jackson and Rachel Mitchell took home SEC All-Freshman team honors. This is the first conference honors for Hofer, Roessner, Jackson and Mitchell, while Klein earned first-team honors in both 2004 and 2006.

All of the Tigers’ postseason games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network in Baton Rouge on The X – 104.5/104.9 FM and on the internet in the GeauxZone at LSUsports.net. In addition, live stats for all SEC Tournament games and streaming video for the first two days action can be found on Auburn’s SEC Tournament website. The championship game on Saturday will be televised on Fox Sports in Baton Rouge on cable channel 38.

In the second season of the single elimination format, the top eight teams advance to the tournament and will pay on Thursday. The semi-finals are on Friday, with the championship game on Saturday at noon. If LSU advances past South Carolina, the Tigers will face the winner of the Georgia/Alabama game on Friday at 5 p.m.

“To play in the SEC Tournament is always something we treasure,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We didn’t get to practice, but we did play in this facility earlier this season, so we know the park. We know we have a tough match up with South Carolina and Melissa Hendon, who we didn’t particularly hit that well. It’s one and done, so it’s a whole different scenario.”

A member of the SEC All-Freshman team last season, Hofer is a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and a four-time Louisiana Pitcher of the Week this season. The sophomore from Safety Harbor, Fla., ranks 26th in the NCAA in earned run average as part of a Tiger pitching staff that ranks second in the nation in ERA. In addition, with a 21-2 record and two saves, Hofer ranks 27th nationally in wins and 73rd in saves. She has thrown a pair of no-hitters this season and ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in wins, seventh in ERA and sixth in strikeouts.

“I’m really proud of Dani,” said Girouard. “She had a rough freshman SEC season and it’s a credit to her to come back. This is an award that is picked by the league’s coaches and I don’t get to vote for our players, so it shows the respect of the other coaches.”

Roessner has earned SEC Player of the Week honors once and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors twice this season. The junior catcher broke the LSU single-season record and leads the SEC with 17 runners caught stealing. She also is tied for the league lead and the school single-season record with four runners picked off. In addition, at the plate she ranks in the top 11 in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage and doubles.

“I thought that Killian, Leslie and Jazz had outstanding seasons,” said Girouard. “Killian was particularly invaluable behind the plate by throwing out runners and being a force not only with her bat, but in keeping the fastest people in the SEC from beating us. “

A USA Softball National Player of the Year Top 25 finalist, Klein leads the SEC in doubles and ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, hits, RBIs, triples, total bases and walks this season. The senior is one double away from tying the LSU single-season record and has recorded the third most RBIs and sixth most total bases in a season in school history. The career LSU record holder for slugging percentage, doubles, RBIs, total bases and multiple-RBI games has recorded separate 10-game, nine-game and eight-game hitting streaks this season.

Jackson is just the third LSU freshman since 1997 to earn All-SEC honors, and is also an SEC All-Freshman team selection. Having earned SEC Freshman of the Week and Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors this season, the Houston, Texas, native leads the team and ranks in the top 10 in the league in batting average and hits. She is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak, which is tied for the sixth longest streak in school history and two games shy of tying the school record.

“Jazz had the freshman year that I expected,” said Girouard. “Klein is a great player and it will be hard not to write her name in the line-up next year. She’ll go out as one of the most decorated players we’ve had.”

Mitchell is one of six Tigers to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team since the award was established in 2004. The outfielder who has played at four separate positions this season leads the team and ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in runs scored and walks. Against Missouri State, she broke the LSU single-game record with four walks. The LaPorte, Texas, native, has also recorded 10 multiple-hit games and eight multiple-RBI games.

The Tigers (49-10, 22-6 SEC) enter the tournament as the second seed after winning their eighth SEC Western Division title, a game and a half behind Tennessee for the overall league title. South Carolina comes into the tournament with a 34-22 overall mark and a 12-16 record in conference play. The Gamecocks finished fourth in the SEC East and seventh overall.

During the season, the Tigers won the series, 2-1, against the Gamecocks, with LSU dropping the first game, 2-1, before rebounding to win the final two games, 8-0 in five innings and 2-0. The Tigers now own a 22-11 record all-time against South Carolina and a 3-1 record against the Gamecocks in SEC Tournament play. Girouard is 36-10 all-time against South Carolina, with a 22-1 record at LSU.
 
The Tigers have now participated in all 11 conference tournaments in the league’s history. LSU owns a 30-11 overall record in SEC Tournament play, and have won the tournament a conference-record four times ? 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004. The Tigers have advanced through the tournament into the championship game in seven of the last eight seasons, including last year when LSU lost to Tennessee, 3-0.

Having qualified for all 11 SEC Tournaments, LSU is 30-11 (.732) all-time in the tournament, one of only five teams with a winning record in the tournament. The Tigers’ winning percentage is almost .200 better than the next best team in the league (Alabama – .571). No other team has won the SEC Tournament championship more than three times and no other team has appeared in the championship game more than three times, while LSU has won it four times and made seven appearances in the title game.

Auburn would like fans that plan to attend the tournament for Thursday’s first session, which LSU will participate in, to know that it coincides with Auburn’s spring graduation ceremonies scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, the basketball arena.

Jane B. Moore Field is situated on the south end of campus and is bordered by Biggio Drive (east), Wire Road (west), Lem Morrison Drive (south) and Samford Avenue (north). Fans are encouraged to park in the following areas south of Samford Avenue on Thursday, May 10 – intramural field spaces located on Biggio Drive near Jane B. Moore Field; the grass lot, located off of Wire Road behind Jane B. Moore Field; and spaces located on Lem Morrison Drive, south of Jane B. Moore Field. Parking for the remainder of the tournament should be plentiful in areas north of Samford Avenue. An Auburn campus map can be found online at https://oitapps.auburn.edu/campusmap.

GAME FACTS: No. 5 LSU Tigers (49-10, 22-6 SEC) vs. South Carolina (34-22, 12-16 SEC)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 10 – 1:30 p.m.; Friday, May 11 – 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 12 – Noon

RANKINGS:
LSU (#5 NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, #6 ESPN/USA Softball Poll)
South Carolina (Not Ranked)

STADIUM: Jane B. Moore Field; Auburn, Ala.

RADIO: The X – 104.5/104.9 FM

TELEVISION: Saturday – Fox Sports Net (Baton Rouge cable channel 38)

INTERNET: Audio broadcast and live stats in the GeauxZone at LSUsports.net. Live streaming video of the first two days can be found at Auburn’s website, AuburnTigers.com.

SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 22-11.