Fresh off a season in which the Tigers finished third in Women’s College World Series, there’s a lot of hype around the No. 3 LSU softball team.
Senior shortstop Bianka Bell said she’s noticed a difference in fanfare this upcoming season inside and outside the clubhouse.
“Just going out to the mall or even to dinner somewhere, people will come up to us and say how excited they are about the season and they [bought] season tickets and that they never had them before,” Bell said. “It’s really cool. It’s going to be a really great year for us.”
LSU opens the annual Tiger Classic with a doubleheader tonight against Ohio State at 5 p.m. and the University of North Florida at 7:30 p.m. in Tiger Park.
Regardless of how many opening days they’ve played in, the Tigers still feel the excitement of a new season each time.
“I don’t think the butterflies ever go away,” said sophomore outfielder Emily Griggs. “I think that what makes the game so great. No matter what, you’re still excited to play every single pitch, every single inning.”
The Buckeyes, who received votes in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll, enter the tournament as LSU’s marquee matchup this weekend after missing out on the NCAA tournament and finishing last season with a 30-22 record.
Ohio State boasts a lineup featuring two senior infielders, Maddy Mcintyre and Erika Leonard, who combined for 29 home runs, 110 RBIs, 82 runs scored and averaged a .789 slugging percentage in 2015.
LSU coach Beth Torina heads into the Tiger’s annual season-opening tournament with one goal: to “win five games.”
The Tigers return a roster full of talent, featuring All-American junior infielder Sahvanna Jaquish and Bell. The two power hitters combined for 149 of the Tigers 392 RBI last  season.
While the Tigers want to set a tone to begin the season, they aren’t trying to press things and are focused on one opponent at a time.
“We’re not looking for perfection this weekend,” Torina said. “We just have to be better than Ohio State, North Florida, whoevers on the other side of the field.”
Although the Tigers return seven starters, LSU will seek to fill the hole in center field and the leadoff spot left by former All-American A.J. Andrews. This weekend’s slate of games could help determine the starter as Torina plans on using different lineups.
“I think you’ll see a different lineup five times this weekend,” said Torina. “You’ll see a different starter out there probably three, four, maybe even five games.”
Sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover highlights a veteran pitching rotation which tallied 43 wins while averaging a below 2.0 ERA in 2015. The Tigers will have a new addition to the pitching rotation with freshman pitcher Sydney Smith, a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota expected to come into the fold.
Torina plans on taking full advantage of her depth in the bullpen, using her pitchers on a matchup basis.
“With four pitchers in the bullpen like we have that are able to start really at any time, I think we’re really lucky in that aspect,” Hover said. We don’t really need a specific person on the mound.”
After today’s doubleheader, the Tigers will continue the Tiger Classic against the University of Connecticut at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.