BATON ROUGE — The 10th ranked LSU softball team will close out the regular season home schedule with a three-game Southeastern Conference series against nationally ranked Florida this weekend at Tiger Park, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
All three games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network in Baton Rouge on The X – 104.5/104.9 FM. The broadcasts can also be heard in the GeauxZone powered by USAgencies on LSUsports.net. Saturday’s doubleheader will also be televised on Cox Sports Television in Baton Rouge on cable channel 37.
Prior to Saturday’s doubleheader, mini makeovers will be available for children attending the game. The makeovers will including a manicure station, tattoos and a purple and gold hair stylist and begin at noon. Between the games of the doubleheader, the “K-9’s in Flight” Frisbee Dogs will perform. On Sunday, LSU will honor its four seniors prior to the start of the game as part of “Senior Day”.
“Hopefully the weather will hold out for us this weekend,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “This is our last home series this season and will be the last time for our fans can come out and see our four seniors.”
The Tigers (45-9, 18-6 SEC) are currently in second place in the SEC Western Division and tied with Tennessee for third in the overall league standings. LSU is two games behind Alabama in the West and two and a half games behind Georgia for the overall championship, although the Crimson Tide are currently leading the league in winning percentage.
Having won five of its last six games, the 24th-ranked Gators are 38-19 for the season and 14-10 in conference play. Florida is currently in third place in the SEC Eastern Division and in fifth place in the overall league standings. The Gators are four games behind the Tigers and Lady Vols for third place and one game ahead of Auburn in sixth place.
“This is an important series for us,” said Girouard. “We have to put our series against Arkansas behind us and move ahead. All of the games left in the regular season are important and will play a role in our seeding for postseason play.”
Junior Leslie Klein leads LSU with a .407 average, eighth best in the SEC this season. In addition, she leads the team with seven home runs and 45 RBIs, while raking second with 16 stolen bases. Senior Lauren Castle is swinging at a .381 clip, 10th in the league, with an SEC-best 32 walks this season.
Five of the Tigers nine starters are hitting over .300 for the season as LSU has recorded a .313 batting average for the season. LSU pounded out 90 doubles, second best in the SEC, with 10 triples and 37 home runs for a .476 slugging percentage.
In addition, LSU ranks third in the SEC in stolen bases for the season with 85. Sophomore Dee Dee Henderson leads the team with 26 stolen bases, sixth most in LSU single-season history. Klein has stolen 16 bases, while senior Camille Harris has stolen 14 bases. Eight players have stolen at least four bases for the season, while 11 total players have stolen at least one base this year.
The Gators are hitting .268 as a team for the season with four players hitting over .300 for the season. Leadoff hitter Kim Waleszonia leads Florida with a .326 average, including four doubles, three triples, a home run, 19 RBIs and a team-best 11 stolen bases. Kristen Butler leads the Gators with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs, while Lindsey Cameron leads Florida with 14 doubles, has nine home runs and 42 home runs.
In the circle, Emily Turner has emerged as the No. 1 pitcher for LSU. The junior boasts a 20-5 overall record with two saves and a 0.67 earned run average, fourth best in the nation this year. In addition, she has posted 12 complete-game shutouts in her 27 appearances, with 172 strikeouts.
Dani Hofer has been phenomenal in her freshman campaign. The 2005 National High School Player of the Year is 15-4 on the season with a save and a 1.59 ERA, including wins over nationally ranked Washington and Oklahoma. She also has 148 strikeouts in 23 appearances.
As a team, the Fighting Tigers boast an 0.98 earned run average with 26 shutouts in 54 games. The pitching staff averages almost eight strikeouts per seven innings while allowing opponents to hit just .172 against them.
Stacey Nelson is the ace of the Gators pitching staff with 31 appearances in Florida’s 57 games. She is 12-10 on the season with a 2.29 earned run average. In addition, she has five complete-game shutouts with 88 strikeouts. Stacey Stevens is 17-5 on the season with a 2.40 ERA and 96 strikeouts, while Lindsay Littlejohn is 9-4 for the year with a 1.72 ERA. As a team, Florida has a 2.21 ERA with 13 shutouts and 240 strikeouts.
LSU is 20-7 all-time against Florida, including an 8-2 record in Baton Rouge. The Tigers won all four meetings with the Gators last season, all in Gainesville, including a run-rule win in the SEC Tournament. Girouard is 16-4 all-time against Florida, including a 15-4 record with the Tigers.
GAME FACTS: No. 10 LSU Tigers (45-9, 18-6 SEC) vs. No. 24 Florida (38-19, 14-10 SEC)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 – 1 p.m./3 p.m.; Sunday, April 30 – 1 p.m.
RANKINGS:
LSU (#11 NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, #10 ESPN/USA Softball Poll)
Florida (#24 NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, Not Ranked ESPN/USA Softball Poll)
STADIUM: Tiger Park (1,000)
RADIO: The X – 104.5/104.9 FM
TELEVISION: Saturday – Cox Sports Television (Baton Rouge cable channel 37)
INTERNET: Audio broadcast and live stats in the GeauxZone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 20-7.