PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The sixth-ranked LSU softball team will put its undefeated record to the test this weekend as the Tigers travel to face an elite field at the Big League Dreams Ballpark in the Palm Springs Classic.
The prestigious Palm Springs Classic Tournament features more than 20 of the nation’s elite softball programs. Hosted by Oregon State, LSU begins play in the three-day round robin tournament on Friday as the Tigers (7-0) take on Florida Atlantic at 5 p.m. CT and Pacific at 10 p.m. CT. On Saturday, LSU will continue play against No. 23 Cal State Fullerton and No. 2 Northwestern. The Tigers will close out the tournament against No. 9 Arizona.
“This is a very exciting weekend for our Tigers,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Other than some of our tough SEC series, this will be the toughest weekend we face all year. We will be facing some quality opponents, including Arizona and Northwestern, who I voted No. 1 this week in the poll. If we come out ready to play and execute our game plan, then I feel like we can have a successful weekend.”
LSU swept through the Easton Tiger Classic last weekend, winning all six games by an average of eight runs. The Tigers then knocked off in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana, which is receiving votes in the national polls, on Tuesday7-0.
Senior Shannon Stein had a career weekend for LSU in the Easton Tiger Classic, earning her Most Valuable Player honors. The second baseman is hitting .588 for the season with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. Eight of LSU’s nine starting hitters are batting over .300 on the season.
Following Stein, senior Dee Dee Henderson has posted a .474 batting average with a double, two RBIs and nine runs scored. In addition, she leads a speedy Tiger line-up with 12 stolen bases. In only seven games this season, LSU has stolen an astronomical 37 stolen bases and have yet to be caught stealing.
Sophomore Jazz Jackson is also hitting over .400 on the year, coming in at .409. Senior Tayl’r Hollis leads the Tigers with two home runs and 11 RBIs, while senior Killian Roessner leads the team with three doubles and has posted 10 RBIs. Sophomore Rachel Mitchell is leading the team with 12 runs scored.
As a team, the Tigers are batting at a remarkable .388 clip. LSU also has shown a considerable pop to its bats, with 15 doubles, three triples and seven home runs for a .617 team slugging percentage.
Dani Hofer leads the Tigers in the circle with a 4-0 record. The junior has combined for one shutout and allowed only eight hits in 24 innings with a 0.58 earned run average and 38 strikeouts. Sophomore Cody Trahan is 2-0 on the year with a 0.75 earned run average and 10 strikeouts.
Tiffany Garcia earned the victory in her only start of the season, giving up two runs in six innings. In relief, freshman Casey Faile has not allowed a run in three and two-thirds innings with seven strikeouts. As a team, the Tigers have a 0.81 earned run average and are allowing opponents to hit just .123 against them. In addition, LSU pitchers have struck out 58 batters.
Florida Atlantic and Pacific both enter the tournament with losing records. The Owls sit at 4-5 on the season, while the Pacific Tigers are 3-6 overall. Cal State Fullerton recorded a wins over Oklahoma and Washington earlier this year and is 4-3-1 on the season. Northwestern is undefeated at 4-0 with wins over top 10-ranked Texas A&M and Arizona last weekend. The Wildcats began the season uncharacteristically at 2-3 on the season.
This will be the first meetings with Northwestern and Pacific in the history of the LSU programs. The Tigers are 1-0 all-time against Florida Atlantic, winning the only meeting, 4-2, in 2004. LSU is 1-1 all-time against Cal State Fullerton, with the Tigers winning the last meeting, 4-3 in 2003. Arizona is the only team to hold the series advantage over LSU, with the Wildcats leading 6-1, but the Tigers got their first win over Arizona in the NCAA Super Regionals two seasons ago.
LSU returns home next week to host UL-Monroe on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Tigers will then host the Easton Purple & Gold Challenge. LSU will face Penn State, Southern Miss, South Alabama and Tulsa in the three-day tournament at Tiger Park.