BATON ROUGE – The LSU softball team takes its first steps towards the 2011 season with the first of two fall tournaments this weekend at Tiger Park. Admission is free to all games.
The Tigers face off with Louisiana College and LSU-Eunice on Saturday followed by Sunday tilts with Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana.
LSU brings back 13 letterwinners, six of which earned postseason accolades. Rachele Fico racked up All-SEC and NFCA All-South Region First-Team selections along with SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors en route to a 20-7 record with a SEC-best 1.15 ERA. She is the only pitcher in SEC history to win the league’s ERA title as a freshman. Anissa Young also joined Fico on the NFCA All-South Region First Team and belted eight home runs and drove home 25 of her 39 RBIs against SEC opponents.
Ashley Applegate, Ashley Langoni, Brittany Mack and Jessica Mouse were All-Louisiana picks, while Mouse secured a spot on the All-SEC Defensive Team where she recorded a team-high 120 assists and 74 putouts for a .990 fielding percentage.
“The weather has been absolutely gorgeous to start and incorporate our new Tigers into the LSU softball program,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “We have had a rash of surgeries in the fall so the new faces on the team should be provided more than ample playing time. Out for our fall games are Kaley Coonce, Allison Falcon, Katie Guillory, Juliana Santos and Anissa Young. We’re excited to see our remaining players take the field in game action.”
LSU earned a runner-up finish at the SEC Tournament en route to a 45-16 finish, its 10th season with at least 45 victories since softball was reinstated in 1997. The Tigers also reeled off a program-best 24-game winning streak and recorded their 12th NCAA Regional appearance in 2010.
LSU Fall Collegiate Classic I
Saturday, October 9
9 a.m. Louisiana College vs. LSU-Alexandria*
11 a.m. Louisiana College vs. LSU-Eunice*
1 p.m. Louisiana College vs. LSU*
3 p.m. LSU-Eunice vs. LSU*
5 p.m. LSU-Eunice vs. LSU-Alexandria*
Sunday, October 10
9 a.m. Nicholls State vs. LSU-Eunice*
11 a.m. LSU-Alexandria vs. LSU-Eunice*
1 p.m. Nicholls State vs. LSU*
3 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana vs. LSU*
5 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana vs. LSU-Alexandria*