Overall Record: 23-8 [7-1 SEC]
Last Week: 4-0
March 20 – Georgia Tech [W, 2-1]
March 23 – at South Carolina [W, 5-0]
March 24 – at South Carolina [W, 5-0]
March 25 – at South Carolina [W, 9-0 – 6 Innings]
This Week:
March 28 – at McNeese State [Lake Charles, 6 p.m.]
March 30 – Arkansas [Tiger Park, 6 p.m.]
March 31 – Arkansas [Tiger Park, 4 p.m.]
April 1 – Arkansas [Tiger Park, 1 p.m.]
Nominee for Player of the Week
Ashley Langoni, LF, Sr., Pueblo, Colorado
Langoni continued her climb up the LSU record books in multiple categories during the Tigers sweep of South Carolina. She cranked a pair of home runs which enabled her to move into sole possession of fifth place on the program’s all-time list. In the process, Langoni also surged her way into ninth place in the RBI rankings. She crossed the plate four times in game three of the series and equaled her own single-game record shared with Dee Dee Henderson.
Nominee for Pitcher of the Week
Brittany Mack, P, Sr., Round Rock, Texas
Mack grinded her way to a pair of wins highlighted by a nine-strikeout performance where she battled the elements during a mid-week triumph over Georgia Tech, a team receiving votes in both Top 25 polls. The senior right-hander also became the fifth pitcher in LSU history to surpass 500 career strikeouts and reach the 50-win plateau. During her weekend start versus South Carolina, Mack was dominant and took a no-hit bid one out into the seventh inning. She has now won seven straight decisions dating back to March 3. The Round Rock, Texas, native surrendered just six hits for the week and opponents notched a .128 hitting clip versus Mack.
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
A.J. Andrews, CF, Fr., Oldsmar, Florida
After missing the Mississippi State series due to injury, A.J. Andrews returned to the lineup and was the prototypical leadoff hitter for the Tigers. She garnered a .400 batting average, scored four runs, drove home four RBIs and drew five walks en route to a sparking .600 on-base percentage. The Oldsmar, Fla., native tallied a career-best three RBIs by cranking a bases clearing triple during the second inning of the series finale.
Notes on the Tigers
LSU picked up a mid-week victory over Georgia Tech, a team receiving votes in both Top 25 polls, followed by a dominant weekend sweep of South Carolina to complete a 4-0 week. The sweep allowed the Tigers to move into a first-place tie with Alabama atop the SEC Western Division standings. LSU has won 20 of its last 24 games dating back to February 19, including a current season’s best seven-game winning streak. The Tigers tossed 20 scoreless innings versus the Gamecocks. For the season, LSU have posted an impressive 134-23 advantage during its 23 wins fueled by 15 shutouts. Brittany Mack carried a no-hit bid one out into the seventh inning during the middle game of the series. She also became the fifth hurler in program to eclipse 500 career strikeouts. Mack stands at 10-4 on the season and has won her last seven decisions. Rachele Fico equaled a season-high 10 strikeouts in the series opener with South Carolina. The junior right-hander also retired the first 12 Gamecocks she faced during the series finale. With two wins, Fico sits at 11-4 for the season with a SEC-leading 0.65 ERA. Ashley Langoni vaulted her way up the LSU record books in multiple categories. With her two home runs during the South Carolina series, Langoni sits alone in sole possession of fifth place on the Tigers home runs list. She also broke into the Top 10 of the LSU RBIs rankings and matched her own single-game record with four runs scored during the South Carolina series finale. The Tigers also received a boost with the return of Allison Falcon and Juliana Santos to the middle of the infield. Santos collected a two-run dinger and claimed a season-high three hits in game three versus South Carolina. For the week, A.J. Andrews and Jacee Blades were catalysts at the top of lineup. The duo combined for seven of LSU’s 21 runs scored for the week. Blades produced multi-hit performances during the first two games against South Carolina, while Andrews ripped a three-run, second-inning triple to bust open the final game of the series. LSU steps out of SEC action and travels to face McNeese State [Wednesday – 6 p.m.] before welcoming Arkansas [Friday – 6 p.m., Saturday – 4 p.m., Sunday – 1 p.m.] to Tiger Park for a weekend series.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
Rank, Team, Record, Points, Previous Ranking
1. California (18), 29-1, 498, 2
2. Alabama (2), 30-1, 475, 1
3. Washington, 32-1, 464, 3
4. Florida, 29-1, 436, 4
5. Arizona State, 31-3, 409, 6
6. Texas, 26-2, 406, 5
7. Oklahoma, 26-4, 369, 7
8. Louisiana-Lafayette, 30-1, 356, 8
9. Tennessee, 23-7, 344, 11
10. Georgia, 27-5, 318, 12
11. Louisville, 27-0, 300, 14
12. Missouri, 23-5, 267, 10
13. Stanford, 25-6, 262, 9
14. UCLA, 21-6, 212, 16
15. Texas A&M, 22-9, 187, 19
16. Oregon, 19-6, 183, 15
17. Arizona, 19-8, 167, 13
18. Hawaii, 26-3, 163, 17
19. Michigan, 21-9, 156, 20
20. Baylor, 22-8, 134, 18
21. South Florida, 29-5, 123, 22
22. Florida State, 29-5, 93, 23
23. LSU, 23-8, 43, RV
24. Auburn, 24-9, 32, 21
25. Syracuse, 19-8, 31, 24
Dropped Out: North Carolina (25)
Others receiving votes: North Carolina (28); Oregon State (20); Tulsa (8); New Mexico (7); DePaul (4); Nebraska (3); Kansas (1); Troy (1)
USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll #7 – March 27, 2012
Rank Team Record Points Previous
1. California (20) 29-1 740 2
2. Alabama (10) 30-1 724 1
3. Washington 32-1 691 3
4. Florida 29-2 656 4
5. Arizona State 31-3 634 5
6. Texas 26-2 598 6
7. Oklahoma 26-4 563 7
8. Louisiana-Lafayette 30-1 526 8
9. Georgia 27-5 487 11
10. Tennessee 23-7 470 12
11. Louisville 27-0 454 13
12. Missouri 23-5 409 10
13. Stanford 25-6 401 9
14. UCLA 21-6 356 16
15. Texas A&M 22-9 282 19
16. Hawaii 26-3 271 17
17. Oregon 19-4 263 18
18. Baylor 22-8 248 15
19. Arizona 19-8 241 14
20. Michigan 21-9 223 20
21. USF 29-5 159 22
22. Florida State 29-5 139 23
23. North Carolina 22-8 57 24
24. Auburn 24-9 49 21
25. New Mexico 22-6 40
Others receiving votes:
LSU 30, Tulsa 14, Oregon St. 6, DePaul 5, Georgia Tech 3, Kentucky 3, Syracuse 3, BYU 2, Troy 2, Kansas 1
Dropped out:
No. 25 DePaul