A three-game winning streak will be on the line when the LSU softball Tigers host Northwestern State in a doubleheader tonight at Tiger Park at 5:30.
Last season, LSU and NSU played five times with LSU winning all five contests. Each game was decided by two runs or less, including a 10-inning thriller in the NCAA Regionals the Lady Tigers won 3-2.
LSU head coach Yvette Girouard expects tonight’s game to be a battle once again.
“They always bring their best game for us,” Girouard said. “They bring a big crowd with them, and they play good against the Tigers. We’re not expecting any different.”
Northwestern State (0-2) has not played a game since Feb. 11 when Southern Mississippi swept them in a doubleheader. NSU outfielder Nicole Martin led the team offensively, going 4-for-7 from the plate, including two runs scored and two stolen bases in the series.
Three Lady Demon starters return to the Greater Baton Rouge area tonight, including two starting pitchers, Amanda Ortego and Crista Miller, and second baseman Tracye Thompson.
The Lady Tigers (7-3) won 4-of-5 games at the UNLV Desert Classic this past weekend, including a win over No. 10 Cal State Fullerton. The LSU bats heated up as the team hit nine home runs in the tournament. Julie Wiese led the home run barrage with four while Christy Connor added three more.
Wiese earned honors as hitter of the week from both the Southeastern Conference and Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association with the performance. Girouard said the junior third baseman is finally getting back to the success she had in her freshman year.
“Julie Wiese is a phenomenal talent,” Girouard said. “She’s taking her hacks, and those hacks are producing some runs for us.”
Girouard said the team suffered a setback this past weekend with the injury of backup catcher Leigh Ann Danos. Danos has a slight dislocation in her shoulder and is out indefinitely. On the positive side for LSU, outfielder Leslie Klein, who suffered a torn ACL in January, had a successful surgery and was walking without crutches at practice yesterday.
Kristin Schmidt (3-3) will start the first game in the circle for LSU, while Tessa Lynam (4-0) gets the nod for the second game. Girouard likes the way the two pitchers have performed, especially in relief roles.
“They’re always there for each other to backup,” Girouard said. “They’ve done an outstanding job so far throwing.