Several freshmen have taken center stage early in the LSU softball team’s 2014 season.
After the Tigers’ first weekend of games, Baylee Corbello and Kelsee Selman have already stepped up to help senior pitcher Ashley Czechner replace former LSU star Rachele Fico.
Corbello was named last week’s Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. In her two starts against Minnesota and Oklahoma State, Corbello collected 23 strikeouts, allowed three hits and posted a 0.50 ERA.
Corbello was the fourth LSU pitcher since 2006 to strike out double digit batters in her first start.
“She is doing a great job. How nice to have a freshman stepping up and doing that for us,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “It is nice to see her succeed. She has worked really hard.”
In a rough first start against Murray State, Selman allowed two runs and walked five batters in less than two innings in the circle.
In her second start against the University of Central Arkansas, Selman rebounded, allowing only one run and three hits. She also struck out 13 batters and lowered her ERA from 11.67 after the Murray State game to 2.06.
“I had a different outlook [Saturday]. I was really nervous because that was the first start I’ve had officially here,” Selman said. “I was just really, really nervous and I was mentally focused on getting strikes and not worrying about what situation I’m in.”
Selman’s ability to respond to her poor first start impressed Torina.
“She did a really good job, I thought, of answering back. After we made an error, she would strike someone out or after something happened, she would come back with a strikeout,” Torina said. “So she did a really good job of answering back when we were in trouble.”
Offensively, freshman catcher Sahvanna Jaquish showed the power Torina said she would bring to the lineup.
Jaquish hit five RBIs this weekend and added her first home run in the sixth inning against Central Arkansas.
“It felt so good,” Jaquish said, “I smiled at coach [Torina] and she winked at me. I didn’t know it was out. I was rounding third and coach was like you can slow down; it’s out. ”