Who run the world? Girls.
I assume Beyoncé wasn’t referring to the LSU sports world, but this quote is just as applicable in Baton Rouge.
Last Friday, fans of the LSU gymnastics team truly packed the PMAC for only the second time since I’ve been a student — the other being the men’s basketball game against Kentucky on Feb. 10.
More than 12,000 people attended the top-three matchup between then-No. 3 LSU and then-No. 2 Florida. The Tigers won the meet 197.950-197.425.
If you were there, you don’t need me to tell you how hyped the place was throughout the meet, especially once it became apparent LSU was going to win.
With the victory, LSU moved up to No. 2 and will stay near the top the rest of the way. On Friday, the Tigers head to Tuscaloosa for another big conference matchup against No. 5 Alabama.
Individually, it’s Rheagan Courville, Jessie Jordan and Ashleigh Gnat putting together great all-around scores with the rest of the lineup carrying plenty of weight in its respective events. Senior Llominicia Hall is a superstar on floor while freshman Erin Macadaeg is blossoming into the same on beam.
This team has top-end talent, depth and a good balance of youth and
experience. It has the makings of the program’s first team national champion as long as the Tigers perform the way they’re capable of.
But the gymnastics team isn’t the only group of ladies making its mark in the LSU sports world.
The LSU softball team is rolling through its early season schedule to the tune of a program-best 16-0 and beginning to look like a national title contender as well.
In those 16 games, the Tigers have “mercy-ruled” six teams and picked up three wins against top-25 teams, and their pitchers have thrown seven shutouts. Powerful hitting and superb pitching depth make for a lethal dynamic.
The old saying “chicks dig the long ball” holds true with this team. Sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish and junior infielder Bianka Bell
are both tied for the team lead and both rank second in the conference with six home runs this season.
But maybe the biggest strength of the team is on the mound.
Allie Walljasper, Baylee Corbello, Carley Hoover and Kelsee Selman have become one of the best pitching staffs in the conference with a 1.03 ERA and 12 complete games.
The softball team ventured to California last weekend for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic and came away with five wins, three shutouts and a ranked victory against then-No. 13 Arizona. The successful weekend launched the undefeated Tigers to No. 7 in the polls, including one first place vote.
The softball team won’t finish undefeated and will likely cool off, but maybe it won’t. I can’t tell you because I can’t read the future. What I can tell you is this team is for real and is just as good as any in the conference and maybe the country.
So next time you go to label LSU a baseball school during the spring, don’t forget about your softball and gymnastics overlords. It’s their world. We’re just living in it.
Brian Pellerin is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Kenner, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Pellerin_TDR.