FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Riding a seven-game Southeastern Conference winning streak, the fifth-ranked Tiger softball team takes to the road to face SEC Western Division rival Arkansas in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Lady’Back Yard.
The Tigers (27-7, 12-2 SEC) swept No. 21 Georgia last weekend and allowed just five hits in three games. The sweep was the second straight for LSU over a ranked opponent after the Tigers swept No. 24 South Carolina in the previous weekend. LSU has now won 15 of its last 17 games.
“We took advantage of our last two SEC series at home and now we need to ride that momentum into our long road trip,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard.
Arkansas (25-14, 6-6 SEC) is coming off a series loss at Florida. The Lady’Backs were swept in a doubleheader on Saturday, 4-1 and 2-1, but rebounded to take the final game, 4-1, on Sunday.
In the circle, the Tigers are led by All-American Britni Sneed. The senior from Houston, Texas is averaging 11.54 strikeouts per seven innings and now ranks 10th in NCAA history in career strikeouts. She needs just five more strikeouts to move into fifth place all-time.
Freshman Blair Smith came alive for the Tigers at the plate last weekend.
After going only 2-for-27 in SEC play entering the Georgia series, she went 5-for-9 with two RBIs and three runs scored. She also hit what proved to be the game-winning RBI in LSU’s 5-1 win on Saturday.
Following the series with Arkansas, LSU will travel to face SEC Western Division leader Alabama in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Sunday’s game will be televised in Baton Rouge on Fox Sports Southwest, Baton Rouge cable channel 37.