The No. 19 LSU softball team faced two top-25 teams along with tournament-winner Texas last weekend at the Texas Invitational. The vigorous schedule hasn’t come to a halt.This weekend LSU (3-3) hosts the Tiger Classic, facing off against Virginia, Oklahoma State and No. 4 Michigan. LSU faces Virginia at 5 p.m. and Oklahoma State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Michigan at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.LSU coach Yvette Girouard said every team this weekend has something strong to offer.”Virginia has a freshman pitcher, Oklahoma State has always been a good program, but of course the cream of the crop is Michigan,” she said. The pitcher Girouard referred to is Virginia freshman Melanie Mitchell, who in 8.2 innings pitched hasn’t given up a run and has struck out 19 batters and surrendered only one walk.While Oklahoma State hasn’t seen action against nationally ranked opponents thus far, the Cowgirls opened the season with a five-game win streak heading into this weekend’s tournament. Girouard said the fierce competition could help the Tigers as the season progresses.”Our RPI is going to be outstanding,” she said.Girouard said facing nationally ranked teams prepares LSU for formidable Southeastern Conference rivals like No. 9 Alabama and No. 3 Florida.”The SEC is brutal,” Girouard said. “We’ve got to show our young players what it’s going to be like.”One of those young players is standout freshman pitcher Rachele Fico. Fico is coming off a superb performance against Louisiana-Monroe in her first home appearance as a Tiger. She gave up two hits in five innings of work, striking out seven Warhawks.”This past weekend really showed us some things that we have to work on,” Fico said. “Coach G was really working my change-up and my rise ball really hard in the bullpen.”Girouard said Fico is learning to perfect her offspeed pitches.”We’ve been working, working, working on it,” Girouard said. “She kind of grew up just throwing hard and by everybody.”Girouard said the team’s pitching has been exceptional. The Tigers haven’t given up more than three runs in a game.”Right now the pitching is very solid,” Girouard said. “We’ve got a Michigan team coming in here that can really hit the ball. I think we can really gauge ourselves on that.”While Girouard praised the pitching, she said the team needs to progress at the plate and can’t take any games off this weekend. “We’ve got to focus in on everybody, because we’re not scoring the runs that we’re capable of scoring,” she said. “Our bats have still got to get rolling here.”The Tigers had a combined 16 runs in their three wins but only two runs in three losing efforts. Fico said despite the team’s shaky hitting, the Tigers’ defense is more than capable of keeping them in any game.”I have a great defense,” Fico said. “I’m not afraid to throw certain pitches, because they’re there to make the plays behind me.”____Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]