After dropping back-to-back Southeastern Conference series for the first time since 2011, the LSU softball team (18-10) is set to meet its first in-state opponent this season today in a midweek game against Nicholls State (8-21).
The Tigers start a seven-game road trip that includes this weekend’s series against No. 22 Oklahoma and a series against Alabama, but LSU has an opportunity to improve before taking on the defending national champions.
The Tigers are 2-4 in their past six games, and inconsistent play at the plate and in the pitchers’ circle has played a major role in their loses.
In the past six games, Tiger pitchers have walked 35 batters and allowed 29 earned runs.
Freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello said out-of-conference games are opportunities to become better in areas of need before SEC play resumes.
Nicholls provides an opportunity for Tiger pitchers to improve against a struggling Colonels lineup batting .250 as a team.
The Colonels are led offensively by senior catcher Brittany Marcet, who has a .333 batting average, four home runs and 18 RBIs in 2014.
Offensively, LSU’s power hitting has been productive lately, led by senior second baseman Allison Falcon and freshman catcher Sahvanna Jaquish.
Falcon was a nominee for SEC Offensive Player of the Week after batting .500, hitting three doubles and a home run last weekend against No. 1 Florida.
Jaquish was nominated for SEC Freshman of the Week after her performance against the Gators, which included two home runs and three RBIs. Jaquish leads the Tigers in home runs with eight and RBIs with 27.
“I try to focus on the game and the team and the score of the game instead of just myself,” Jaquish said. “It’s fun trotting around the bases.”