After a pre-conference schedule that saw the LSU softball team (15-7) play six games against four ranked teams, the Tigers’ road isn’t getting any easier.
LSU opens its Southeastern Conference slate tonight in a doubleheader against No. 20 Auburn (21-3).
The Tigers have won five straight games going into tonight’s tilt and have outscored their opponents, 35-5, during that period.
Sophomore infielder Ashleigh Kuhn, senior outfielder Ashley Langoni and freshman infielder Dylan Supak accounted for 18 of the team’s 29 RBIs during those games while the team posted a .336 batting average during that span.
Senior outfielder Ashley Applegate said LSU’s offense should build off its recent strong performances.
“It was really good to swing the bat and get ahead early this weekend,” she said. “We scored really early in the first couple of games.”
Senior infielder Juliana Santos said LSU’s difficult slate of opening games prepared it for SEC play.
“That helped us a lot,” she said. “Being able to start off the season with such hard competition gets you prepared for what you need to work on and what you need to improve on as a team.”
The SEC has five teams ranked in the top 25.
“I think anybody could attest to the SEC being the toughest conference in softball,” Santos said. “Everyone’s really, really tough competition.”
Auburn features senior left-handed pitcher Jenee Loree, who has thrown two no-hitters on the season and won two SEC Pitcher of the Week awards this season. LSU coach Beth Torina said the Tigers have seen plenty of good pitching so far this year.
“I feel like playing Oklahoma twice and seeing one of the best left-handed pitchers in the country will really help us,” she said. “Just seeing the pitching that we’ve seen, I think we’ll be prepared for the really talented and upperclassmen pitching staff that they’ll bring.”
Auburn’s pitching staff has three seniors, two of whom are left-handed.
Like LSU, Auburn comes into the game on a five-game winning streak. But Torina said she isn’t concerned about starting the SEC schedule against a tough team.
“Honestly, everybody in the SEC is tough,” she said. “It really doesn’t matter who we’re starting with – we have to bring our best every time we take the field.” This will be the first season since 2006 that LSU isn’t ranked above Auburn during their meeting.
Santos said while the team LSU is facing isn’t important, a positive outcome is vital. “If we come out on top, it gives us confidence to keep on rolling,” she said. “We want to get some wins under our belt.” ____ Contact Albert Burford at [email protected]