During LSU coach Beth Torina’s tenure, the LSU softball program has ascended into the top tier of collegiate softball, capped most recently by a historic 2015 campaign that ended with a third place finish in the 2015 Women’s College World Series.
From achieving the first No. 1 ranking in program history to junior shortstop Bianka Bell setting the LSU career home run record and single season homer mark, there was something different in the air at Tiger Park.
“And as their coach, I enjoyed every single minute with them this year,” Torina said following LSU’s exit in the WCWS. “I enjoyed watching them make history. So I think that they should walk out of here with their heads held high because they made history and had truly a historic season for LSU.”
LSU awed the nation with a school record 25-0 start fueled by a dynamic lineup and a deep pitching rotation.
During the streak, LSU outscored its opponents 199-28. Sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish and Bell dominated at the plate, combining for 20 homers and 82 RBIs.
In the circle, the Tigers’ pitching rotation posted a 0.86 ERA while notching 20 complete games.
“It’s amazing to have all four of these arms,” Torina said. “It’s a huge difference maker in this season that people don’t really know who to be prepared for on any given day. We always have that in our back pocket.”
But LSU’s undefeated streak came to a grinding halt against defending national champion Florida in Game 1 of the Tigers’ first Southeastern Conference road series on March 13. The Tigers then rallied to take the series with wins in Games 2 and 3.
Despite scoring nine runs in the first inning, LSU rallied to win Game 2 in a dramatic fashion to knot the series.
After Florida tied the game with a grand slam in the sixth inning, junior catcher Kellsi Kloss stepped up to the plate with two outs and two strikes on the board with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Kloss smashed a grand slam over the left field wall to secure a 14-10 victory for LSU.
After their 10-3 victory in Game 3 of the series, the Tigers earned their first No. 1 ranking in program history the following week.
During the 2015 season, LSU held the No. 1 ranking for three weeks while earning a 7-4 mark as the nation’s top team.
Despite its record-breaking start, the Tigers finished the season in a downturn, losing five of their last eight regular season games, including conference series against Missouri and Auburn.
Although LSU went one and done in the SEC Tournament, the Tigers still earned the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and an opportunity to host an NCAA Regional and a Super Regional.
After destroying Texas Southern 15-0 in its Baton Rouge Regional opener, the Tigers fell to Arizona State, 1-0, despite freshman pitcher Carley Hoover, who emerged as the Tigers’ undisputed ace, throwing a gem of a game.
Following the Tigers’ win against Nebraska in an elimination game, Hoover’s confidence in the circle fueled LSU’s two-game sweep of Arizona State in the regional final to advance to the first-ever Baton Rouge Super Regional.
“There [is] such a different presence when Carley is on the mound,” Kloss said. “You just feel an aura over the whole entire team. You just know that Carley will do whatever she can to win a ball game. She’s such a big competitor.”
During the Tigers’ Super Regional and WCWS run, Hoover led the pitching staff with seven starts in 11 appearances while posting a 1.89 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 48 and 2/3 innings pitched.
Although LSU fell one game short of reaching the championship series, Torina and company’s dominance during the 2015 season earned LSU a place among the elite in collegiate softball.
“This was a special group,” Torina said. “They had great chemistry. They had great leadership.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.

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Javier Fernández

LSU sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish (2) hits the ball during the Tiger's 8-0 first victory against Arizona on Saturday, May 23, 2015 in Tiger Park.