The No. 7 LSU softball team hosts Northwestern State at 6 p.m. tonight at Tiger Park before Southeastern Conference play starts with this weekend’s game against Arkansas.
LSU coach Beth Torina said the Tigers (21-0) are resting after several late finishes at this weekend’s Purple & Gold Challenge in preparation for tonight’s game.
“You know, honestly, I gave them the day off [Monday],” Torina said. “It wasn’t scheduled. We made a couple changes. We got some late nights out here that weren’t really prepared for. So they are a little bit tired, so honestly some rest is what’s going to do them the most good right now.”
The Tigers are coming off their fourth consecutive five-game tournament to open the season. LSU also had a midweek game against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 17 in between the Tiger Invitational and the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Although Torina is giving her team the day off, she said she expects her players will work on some things individually.
“They’ll do a few things on their own to try and get themselves ready, make sure they’re still sharp for Tuesday night,” Torina said. “But right now, just making sure they’re well-rested is going to be the best decision for them.”
The Tigers are not only resting, they’re making sure they stay humble despite having an undefeated, school-record start.
Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews said LSU will prepare this week like it’s 0-21 rather than 21-0. Andrews said this approach prevents the Tigers from becoming complacent, and LSU practices like it’s winless to keep the team humble and prevent stumbles.
The Lady Demons (9-11) are a familiar foe for the Tigers. LSU swept aside Northwestern State, 15-1, on Saturday at the Purple & Gold Challenge.
The Tigers’ display at the plate during the game against the Lady Demons was a microcosm of their offense this season.
LSU has outscored its opponents 165-27 through 21 games. The Tigers have mercy-ruled opponents 10 times, meaning just fewer than half of the team’s games have been stopped before the seventh inning.
LSU doesn’t just have an explosive offense — it has a pitching staff to match.
The Tigers’ rotation has combined for a 21-0 record, 16 of those wins coming in the form of complete games. The four pitchers have an ERA of 1.02 and have held opponents to a .197 batting average, striking out 151 batters against just 34 walks.
Torina said the team is continually focusing on improving each day, and her players understand the mentality.
“We have a really neat group that understands how to work,” Torina said. “They understand to keep the pressure on. They understand that they can’t relax like this. They have to continue to be relentless no matter what their record is.”
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.