The 11th-ranked LSU softball team looks to continue its winning ways when the Tigers take on Southeastern Conference Western Division foe Auburn in a three-game series this weekend.
LSU and Auburn start the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and conclude the series with a single game Sunday at 12 p.m. LSU leads the overall series 21-4 and won two of three last year.
LSU (40-12, 16-7 SEC) has won 14 of its last 15 games, including eight of its last 10 in conference play. The Tigers took two of three games from Arkansas in a midweek series as LSU run-ruled the Razorbacks 8-0 Wednesday in the series finale in five innings.
Kristin Schmidt pitched 12 innings for LSU, allowing 11 hits and striking out 19 batters in the series. She improved to 25-10 overall and 12-6 in SEC play on the season with a 1.00 ERA.
Christy Connor led the team offensively as the senior went 5-for-8 with three RBIs in the series. She also improved her batting average to .273 and hit her sixth home run of the season.
During that 15-game stretch, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 98-19. LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the Tigers recent ability to score at will is due to the Tigers success at the plate, which she credits to assistant coach James DeFeo.
“We’re tearing the cover off the ball right now,” Girouard. “Coach DeFeo has been working with the players to improve their game at the plate, and he is one of the reasons for our success.”
The Tigers head into this weekend’s series trailing SEC West leader Alabama by three games. Girouard said the Tigers need to get timely hits against an upstart Auburn team.
“We’ve got to take this one game at a time against an all of the sudden good Auburn team,” Girouard said. “They will be dedicating their new stadium, so I’m sure they’ll be up to beat the Tigers. We’ll let the chips fall where they may … If we score some runs we’ll be okay.”
Auburn (26-25,13-13 SEC) has won its last six games, including five in SEC play. Girouard said pitcher Kristen Keyes is key to Auburn’s success. Keyes has a 12-11 record with a 2.66 ERA and 176 strikeouts.
Keyes threw a no-hitter against Georgia Tech in a 1-0, 10 inning victory for Auburn on Wednesday. The no-hitter was only the fourth in Auburn history, and the junior hurler was one hit batter away from pulling off a perfect game.
Freshman Ashley Griffin leads Auburn from the plate. The Tiger shortstop leads the team with a .321 batting average, 17 doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs.