The No. 11 LSU softball team [10-1] will have its hands full in the Golden State when it faces five different opponents in four days.

The team will compete against some of the nation’s top programs in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., including No. 14 Arizona and No. 16 UCLA.

“Once I heard last year that we were coming to this, I knew it was going to be tough,” said LSU so

The No. 11 LSU softball team (10-1) will have its hands full in the Golden State when it faces five different opponents in four days.

The team will compete against some of the nation’s top programs in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., including No. 14 Arizona and No. 16 UCLA.

“Once I heard last year that we were coming to this, I knew it was going to be tough,” said LSU sophomore and California native Kailey McCasland. “I’ve gone to this competition since I was little. A lot of big colleges and a lot of big names are going to be there.”

McCasland is one of four LSU players — along with freshmen Kellsi Kloss and Sandra Simmons and junior Simone Heyward — who will be returning home this weekend for the classic.

The Tigers will need to follow up a strong home performance last weekend in which they swept the competition, scoring 26 runs through five games and improving their batting average to .289 — 32 points higher than it was 365 days ago.

But despite the improved offense this season, LSU was only able to post one run through seven innings of play against Nicholls State on Sunday – its most recent game.

“We’re focusing on making adjustments within an at-bat,” said junior Allison Falcon. “Instead of just throwing away an at-bat, we’re going to see a pitch and really adjust there. We really saw a pitcher that we weren’t used to and we didn’t make the adjustment we should’ve.”

After Sunday night’s game, LSU coach Beth Torina said her team’s difficulty hitting the ball came from a change in pitching style it hadn’t seen all weekend.

According to Torina, the team’s trip to Palm Springs could bring more of the same challenges it faced only a few days earlier.

“They’re all pretty different,” Torina said. “We’re going to see change-up, we’re going to see rise, going to see drop, we’re going to see a lot of things. We just need to be prepared and make sure that we’re doing what we do well to the best of our abilities.”

Torina wouldn’t confirm if senior Rachele Fico would get the first start against Brigham Young on Thursday, but if current trends prevail, the All-American will most likely kick off the Tigers’ weekend.

Whatever order Torina pitches her bullpen, LSU is expecting to see some high-powered offense this weekend.

“I know we’ll see a really good offense when we get to UCLA on Sunday,” Torina said. “ … We’re facing a really potent offense in Arizona. Ohio State’s played well and BYU typically has a solid offense.”

phomore and California native Kailey McCasland. “I’ve gone to this competition since I was little, a lot of big colleges and a lot of big names are going to be there.”

McCasland is one of four LSU players — along with freshmen Kellsi Kloss and Sandra Simmons, and junior Simone Heyward — who will be returning home this weekend for the classic.

The Tigers will need to follow up a strong home performance last weekend in which they swept the competition, scoring 26 runs through five games and improving their batting average to .289 — 32 points higher than it was 365 days ago.

But despite the improved offense this season, LSU was only able to post one run through seven innings of play against Nicholls State on Sunday – its most recent game.

“We’re focusing on making adjustments within an at bat,” said junior Allison Falcon. “Instead of just throwing away an at bat, we’re going to see a pitch and really adjust there. We really saw a pitcher that we weren’t used to and we didn’t make the adjustment we should’ve.”

After Sunday night’s game, LSU coach Beth Torina said her team’s difficulty hitting the ball came from a change in pitching style it hadn’t seen all weekend.

According to Torina, the team’s trip to Palm Springs could bring more of the same challenges it faced only a few days earlier.

“They’re all pretty different,” Torina said. “We’re going to see change-up, we’re going to see rise, going to see drop, we’re going to see a lot of things. We just need to be prepared and make sure that we’re doing what we do well to the best of our abilities.”

Torina wouldn’t confirm if senior Rachele Fico would get the first start against Brigham Young on Thursday, but if current trends prevail, the All American will most likely kick off the Tigers’ weekend.

Whatever order Torina pitches her bullpen, LSU is expecting to see some high-powered offense this weekend.

“I know we’ll see a really good offense when we get to UCLA on Sunday,” Torina said. “I know they hit a bunch of home runs this past weekend. We’re facing a really potent offense in Arizona. Ohio State’s played well and BYU typically has a solid offense.”