The ninth-ranked LSU softball team plays host to McNeese State tonight in a 6:30 p.m. start at Tiger Park.
The Tigers have won eight of their last 10 games, including 2-of-3 in last weekend’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic.
McNeese State (0-7) looks for its first win of the 2003 season tonight. Texas-Arlington swept the Cowgirls in a three-game series this past weekend. LSU head coach Yvette Girouard wants the Tigers to remain focused in tonight’s contest. She said McNeese State possesses some talented players and wants nothing more than an upset of LSU.
“They have two very good pitchers, and they always seem to hit well,” Girouard said. “It’s a game on their schedule they would love to win.”
Girouard wants the Tigers to continue fighting hard as they did against No. 10 Oklahoma in their last game. LSU won the game 7-4 in nine innings. She also thinks the Tigers need to improve defensively tonight as they gave up 12 runs in three games in the NFCA tournament this past weekend.
“Defense is the thing we would still like to sharpen up,” Girouard said.
Kristin Schmidt (5-4) gets the nod for LSU in the circle. Schmidt earned a win in her last appearance against Oklahoma. The junior pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief of Tessa Lynam, striking out seven batters and allowing one hit to the Sooners.
      LSU outfielder LaDonia Hughes also had a great weekend for LSU. She earned the Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association Hitter of the Week award going 7-for-16 from the plate last week, including a two-RBI single that tied LSU and Oklahoma at 4-4 in the fourth inning.
Girouard said Hughes is starting to play up to her potential.
“She’s starting to look like the player we recruited,” Girouard said. “She’s adding some weapons to her offensive arsenal.”
The Tigers are relatively healthy heading into tonight’s game. Girouard said Lynam might step up to the plate as a batter for the first time this season.
The sophomore broke her left hand but still served as one of LSU’s starting pitchers even with the injury. Girouard looks forward to having Lynam’s bat in the lineup.
Catcher Leigh Ann Danos still remains inactive for the Tigers. Danos suffered a slight shoulder dislocation two weeks ago in the UNLV tournament.
Girouard said Danos got an MRI yesterday and when the results come back, the Tigers will know more about when the sophomore can return to action.