LSU coach Yvette Girouard once said 80 percent of what it takes to win championships comes from the success of a team’s pitching staff.
Although it is early in the season, it appears the pitching staff may be carrying the Tigers to an even higher percentage of victories.
LSU has won 94 percent of its games this season and is off to a 17-1 start against less-than Southeastern Conference-caliber opponents. The No. 6 Tigers will attempt to increase that win total by two when they face Alcorn State University (2-9) in a doubleheader today in Tiger Park.
The first game is scheduled at 4 p.m., while the second game will begin 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
Freshman Cody Trahan and junior Tiffany Garcia, who have a combined record of 4-0 this season, will be in the circle for the Tigers against the Lady Braves.
Sophomore pitcher Dani Hofer, who is 7-0 this season with a 0.95 ERA, said she expects Garcia will be as dominant as herself and senior Emily Turner for the remainder of the season.
“Every time she’s comes out here it’s either a one-hitter or a no-hitter,” Hofer said. “She’s doing a tremendous job.”
Garcia has throw a no-hitter and a one-hitter this season, while Hofer has thrown two no-hitters, including one Saturday in the Tigers’ 9-0 win against Southern Miss.
Hofer and Turner have a combined record of 13-1 this season and have struck out 146 batters in 86 innings pitched.
Hofer said the impressive start for the pitching staff is the result of the fine-tuning of basic pitching mechanics.
The Safety Harbor, Fla., native also said the staff received an emotional boost this past weekend after coming off its first loss of the season. Southern Illinois University, which receives votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll, defeated LSU on Feb. 18, 8-5.
The Tigers bounced back by going 6-0 in the Easton Purple and Gold Challenge this past weekend and outscoring their opponents, 53-2.
“It’s always good to play at home,” Hofer said. “At home you want to be extra good. Throughout the whole season, [the pitching staff] is just trying to make it light on the defense. Since the offense is doing their job, we’re trying to do our job on the defense part.”
Girouard said the respective pitchers are only half of what she considers a successful pitching equation.
“A lot of pats on the backs to the pitchers, but the catchers do an excellent job of controlling and managing the pitchers and building a relationship with them,” she said.
Senior catcher Kristen Hobbs said a strong bond between pitchers and catchers can make or break a team.
“[The catchers] can catch any of them at any time,” Hobbs said. “We’re comfortable with all four of them, and we feel that they’re comfortable with us. It’s a good mix.”
Alcorn State will come to Baton Rouge trying to disrupt the good vibes the Tigers have recently shared. The Lady Braves are fresh off 5-4 victory Friday against No. 9 UL-Lafayette, and Girouard said the Tigers cannot slack off in their preparation for Alcorn State.
“[The upset victory] is one of those on paper that should never happen but in the world of sports, it happens all the time,” she said. “It’s just another reminder to the team that if you don’t come to play, on any given day, anybody can be beat.”
—–Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]