by Ryan Rogers
LSUSports.net
(4/4/01)
This weekend, the No. 7 LSU Tigers will face its biggest test of the season when No. 3 Alabama rolls into Tiger Park for a three-game series.
The LSU-Alabama rivalry has heated up on the softball diamond with the Western Division being decided each of the last three years by this annual clash. The Tigers have prevailed, winning the series and the West the last three years, leading the all-time series 12-10.
“This series is always huge every year. It has always been on the last weekend of the season and it usually dictates who will run the table in the SEC,” says first-year LSU head coach Yvette Girouard”
Alabama boasts a 34-1 record, 14-1 in the SEC. LSU is 31-7 (11-3), two games back of the Tide. This weekend will truly be a clash of the SEC titans.
“This series means a lot of things. It’s for tradition, it’s for pride and it’s for keeping the legacy going,” Girouard said. “LSU has come out on top in this series every year and we want to keep that going.”
Besides the good teams battling, this weekend poses a very friendly coaching rivalry. Alabama head coach Pat Murphy is a former assistant of Girouard at Louisiana-Lafayette. Also, Murphy’s assistant Alyson Habetz worked under Girouard at ULL.
“I consider those two to be some of the finest people I’ll ever meet,” says Girouard. “They are two of the great coaches in the game. There is a lot of personal feelings out there. It’s going to be a fun situation and we’re anxious to see happen.”
Last year, LSU sported a senior-laced lineup off all-conference performers.
After losing cornerstone players Ashley Ducote, Stacey Newton, Shante’ Fremin, and Tara Asbill, expectations were not nearly as high in many circles for LSU in 2001. However, Girouard has taken over the program and kept LSU with the premier programs, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation.
“This team lost so many talented seniors last year that we are kind of a surprise this year,” says Girouard. “A lot of new faces have stepped up and some old faces have been good leaders which has helped us be successful so far this year.”
Alabama brings a tenacious lineup to Tiger Park. Jackie McClain, last weekend’s SEC Player of the Week, is sporting a .464 batting average with seven doubles and seven home runs. McClain, a star freshman, is one of the conference’s premier players.
“I know Jackie very well,” says Girouard. “I recruited her very hard and I know she’s a tremendous player. We are going to have to pitch intelligent and I think we have a few surprises for everyone in their lineup. Our pitchers have a different look than in year’s past.”
The Crimson Tide has three batters in the lineup batting over .400 and four-more well over .300. Kelly Kretscham (.440, 10 HR), Ginger Jones (.412 9 HR), Susan Olcott (.345), Lindsay Testa (.343) and Angela Johnson (.341) lead the way for the Alabama sluggers.
“They’re capable of jacking the ball out of the park on every pitch,” adds Girouard.
On the mound, Alabama has one of the SEC’s best pitchers. Shelley Laird is the workhorse of the staff posting a record of 21-0. She has a 1.13 ERA and dominates batters with her repertoire of pitches.
LSU has an equally impressive pitching staff. Britni Sneed has a 0.82 ERA and a 20-4 record. Sneed is an All-SEC and Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American.
“Britni (Sneed) has been phenomenal,” says Girouard. “She’s been everything I expected her to be.”
Ashley Lewis has an even more impressive ERA of 0.85. She has a 10-3 record and posted a no-hitter against Coastal Carolina. She is an All-SEC player with an array of pitches. Sarah Meadows (2-0 1.38 ERA) has been an excellent compliment to Sneed and Lewis.
LSU can hit the ball. The Tigers are batting a point off of .300 as a team.
Led by Stephanie Hastings who is batting .392, the Tigers are capable of generating offense. Redshirt freshmen Julie Wiese (.299 9 HR) has been a welcomed surprise in a lineup with big shoes to fill. She has stepped up and become a solid cleanup hitter for LSU.
Senior Dee Douglas has been known for her blazing speed during her tenure at LSU. Now, she’s elevated her offensive game batting .370 in 2001.
Trena Peel (.280 4 HR), a multi-talented outfielder will be counted on for big plays this weekend. Peel has great speed, a good glove and a rocket arm that has saved the Tigers numerous runs this year. She has a knack for making big plays and could find herself in the spotlight this weekend.
This is a pivotal weekend for both teams. If LSU can win two or three games in the series they can take a huge step toward defending their SEC crown.
“In order to win this weekend we’re going to have to do the things you have to do every time you play to win,” says Girouard. “Good pitching, sound defense and timely hitting. It all comes down to the basics. That will decide who comes out of here standing.
“I definitely think the two teams match-up well with one another. Usually great pitching beats great hitting and we may have a slight advantage their.”