LSU athletics history was made Tuesday night.
The No. 4 LSU softball team dismantled Louisiana Tech, 30-8, setting six single-game records and tying another in the win. The game was just another highlight of an impressive season.
“If you would have told me we would score 30 [on Tuesday], I would have said you were probably a little crazy,” said senior designated player Kellsi Kloss. “I felt very comfortable … when we have run support like that, I’m able to get a pitch that I want and not a pitch I think I have to swing at because I’m in a pressure situation.”
The Tigers (24-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) have dominated opponents this season with 13 mercy-rule victories.
LSU coach Beth Torina’s team on average wins by 7.5 runs and is the eighth best scoring offense in the NCAA, averaging 8.48 in all contests. LSU, as a team, is maintaining a .380 batting average — good for No. 4 in the NCAA.
The team will need each of those runs when it travels to College Station, Texas, for a weekend series with SEC foe Texas A&M.
The Aggies (25-2) feature a powerhouse offense that is quite familiar with the longball. They have hit 43 home runs this year, tied for second in the NCAA.
LSU’s pitching rotation needs to be cautious of Texas A&M’s lineup. It features six players hitting above .300, with at least 22 appearances.
“A&M has a great offense,” Torina said. “They’re going to go and swing big, but I think we’ve proven we can swing right with them, and hopefully our pitchers can keep them in check.”
LSU pitchers have had outstanding performances in the circle this season — from shutouts to no-hitters. The Tigers’ hurlers have a staff ERA of 1.45. Smith leads the team with a 0.71 ERA, No. 3 in the NCAA, and has thrown four complete-game shutouts, including a perfect game.
Sophomore Carley Hoover has stepped up as the team’s ace, posting a modest 1.53 ERA and a perfect 10-0 record. She has struck out 92 batters, averaging 1.8 strikeouts per inning pitched.
But she will need help if the Tigers want to take down the Aggies. Torina will likely enlist the help of sophomore Allie Walljasper and junior Baylee Corbello to round out the LSU bullpen.
Walljasper has the second lowest ERA on the team with a 1.29, but she has yet to pitch more than two innings since returning from her undisclosed injury on March 12. She was the de facto No. 2 pitcher prior to being sidelined, but for now, her status remains unclear.
“I’m not worried about our offense at all,” Hoover said. “Our offense is always great. Hopefully our bullpen this weekend can neutralize their offense and give us a good game.”
Though Texas A&M has yet to play an SEC opponent, the squad has competed against a difficult nonconference schedule.
The Aggies have gone 4-1 against ranked opponents, defeating three top-10 teams, with their lone loss coming against then-No. 7 UCLA, who they had already beaten once.
Torina said having the first conference series under the team’s belt gives it an advantage.
“The way we felt last weekend [against Alabama] was very different than how we had felt in some of the other games,” Torina said. “A&M has played a good schedule. They’ve traveled — been battle-tested for sure — but I do think there is something about playing in the SEC that just feels a little different.”

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Wingate Jones

LSU junior infielder Sahvanna Jaquish (2) slides into home base during LSU's 17-2 victory against the University of Memphis on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Tiger Park