The No. 23 LSU softball team travels to sunny Palm Springs, Calif., to compete in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic starting Thursday with a double header against Long Beach State (6-4) and No. 3 Washington (10-0).
Competing in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic for the second straight season, the Tigers will go up against some of the nation’s top programs, including No. 6 Oregon (12-1) and No. 13 Stanford (12-0).
“It is exciting. We will get to make a statement out there,” said LSU head coach Beth Torina. “If we can play well against some of those teams, I think it will show a lot to the rest of the country about who we really are.”
Against Long Beach State, LSU will face a power lineup led by junior infielder Ashley Holmes, who leads the team in home runs and RBIs.
The Tigers rotation is led by freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello, who was a candidate for the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week this week, after being named the SEC Freshman of the Week last week.
The Tigers will have an opportunity to improve offense against the Long Beach St. pitching staff, which has allowed a combined 47 earned runs.
LSU’s power offense has come alive in the last six games of the season, hitting seven of its 10 total home runs, including three games with two home runs.
Despite the power surge, the Tigers have lost two close games during the same stretch.
“The experiences that we are having now, with close games and balls not falling our way, [it] just makes us work harder and come together more in order to have all of those skills to be able to score those runs in SEC play and in regionals,” said junior utility player Dylan Supak.
In the second game, LSU will face No. 3 Washington, who will test LSU in every aspect of the game, from the offense’s ability to be productive consistently to the ability of the young pitching staff to close out innings by eliminating mistakes.
LSU’s combination of speed and power in the lineup has combined to create opportunities for runs this season.
Junior outfielder A.J. Andrews leads the team with 11 steals on 11 attempts, while sophomore shortstop Bianka Bell leads the Tigers in home runs with three.
Corbello leads the Tigers with a 1.06 ERA and 42 strikeouts, but more pressure may be put on her shoulders after senior pitcher Ashley Czechner struggled in her last outing against Penn. St.
“I have learned to stay within myself and not to let the adrenaline overtake you,” Corbello said, “I have learned to trust my team.”
The Tigers’ pitching staff will be tested against the Huskies’ lineup, which includes PAC-12 Player of the Week Kylee Lahners, who hit .643 last weekend during the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Arizona.
Statistically, Lahners has jacked a team-high six home runs leading to 26 RBIs, second on the team.
In addition to Lahners, the Tigers’ offense has to compete against Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week senior pitcher Bryana Walker.
Walker posted a 0.33 ERA through 21 IP in her four wins last weekend. Walker has posted 46 strikeouts and only nine walks through her first six wins.
Against defending champions Oklahoma, she allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out 14 batters.
Playing against these top teams in such a large tournament will have the feeling of a mini-World Series, Corbello said.
The Tigers begin competition Thursday at 5 p.m., and their second game begins at 7:30 p.m.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Taylor Balkom

Players and fans turn toward the American Flag on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 prior to the Tigers' 1-2 loss to South Alabama in Tiger Park.