The LSU softball team’s 2009 home opener wasn’t quite as beautiful as the stadium it was played in, but the Tigers will take it.No. 21 LSU (4-2) debuted the newly finished Tiger Park in front of an announced 2,172 fans, defeating McNeese State (0-6), 6-0.”Now we can breathe,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “Everybody was very nervous trying to get acclimated. The kids were in awe with the crowd, and they were just so happy.”LSU capitalized on a sloppy fifth inning by McNeese State on the way to the shutout. The Tigers scored five runs on no hits, as the Cowboys committed two errors and advanced runners on six separate wild pitches.”They definitely helped us out — we’re going to have to hit the ball a whole lot better than this through the year,” Girouard said. “We made some adjustments. We have some young kids that have to breathe and play.”Junior leftfielder Jazz Jackson and junior centerfielder Kirsten Shortridge provided the little offense the Tigers needed.The pair etched themselves into Tiger Park lore in the third inning. Shortridge reached first on an infield single, providing the park’s first hit, and Jackson’s subsequent left-field double scored Shortridge for the first run in Tiger Park’s history.”I just wanted to score. I wanted to win,” Jackson said. “I wanted our first game to be memorable. I didn’t really think about scoring the first RBI, I just wanted to win.”Shortridge, a Baylor transfer, reintroduced herself to the LSU faithful in McNeese’s injury-plagued fifth inning. Jackson stole second with Shortridge on third, and the throw out went wide to give Shortridge and unearned run.”To walk out and strike out my first at bat sets a negative tone, and I take that very personally,” Shortridge said. “As long as I can cross home plate for my team — that’s the ultimate goal.”Sophomore pitcher Cody Trahan — still recovering from off-season surgery — got her second start of the season, treating LSU fans to a welcome surprise. Trahan struck out five batters and allowed no runs and no hits in just three innings of work.Trahan learned she would get the first start in the new stadium “around noon” on Wednesday.”This afternoon, coach called our trainer and let her know, and she relayed the news to me,” she said. “Obviously I wish [senior pitcher] Dani [Hofer] could have had the first pitch but I’ll take it.”Sophomore pitcher Casey Faile (2-1) got the win, pitching three innings with two strikeouts. Freshman Brittany Mack pitched the game’s final inning, striking out two batters and allowing no hits.The win capped a star-studded night for LSU athletics. Dozens of former LSU players were on hand for the stadium’s opening, including former softball players from the past three decades.Current LSU celebrities also made an appearance at Tiger Park, highlighted by members of LSU’s preseason No. 1 baseball team and LSU football coach Les Miles.”We worked our butts off to get them here,” Jackson said. “I was on my Facebook book telling people ‘Come to our game, come to our game.’ I wanted our first game to be huge, and it was.”—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]