The ninth-ranked LSU softball team travels to Columbus, Ga., this weekend to compete in the eighth annual National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic.
LSU (9-3) makes its third consecutive appearance in the tournament. The Tigers won 3-of-5 games last year including a loss to eventual tournament champion Nebraska.
The first portion of the tournament consists of four, six-team pools, in which every team plays one another. The team with the best record in each pool automatically advances to the Gold Bracket, along with the top two second-place teams. The next eight teams make up the Silver Bracket and the bottom eight go to the Bronze Bracket. The bracket play follows single elimination format including consolation games, guaranteeing each team a minimum of five games for the weekend.
The Tigers await challenges in their pool from NFCA/USA Today’s No. 7 Cal State Fullerton (10-4), No. 10 Oklahoma (5-2) and unranked Villanova (0-0). Other participants LSU could face in the tournament include No. 3 Nebraska and No. 4 California, the defending national champions.
Last weekend Cal State Fullerton won 4-of-5 in the UNLV Tournament, losing only to LSU by a 4-3 score. Amanda Hockett leads Fullerton offensively and currently has a .421 batting average including four home runs and 14 RBIs.
LSU head coach Yvette Girouard expects another close game from Fullerton this weekend. She knows Fullerton wants revenge.
“They will be out for blood,” Girouard said.
The last time LSU played Oklahoma, the Tigers eliminated OU from the Women’s College World Series in 2001. The game lasted 13 innings as LSU endured for a 2-1 victory. Girouard said another victory over the 2000 WCWS champions would help LSU in the recruiting battle.
“You’ve got an awesome team in Oklahoma who year after year produces great teams,” Girouard said. “It’s a personal agenda for us because we seem to battle them for recruits. We’d obviously like a win in that ball game.”
Oklahoma won 2-of-3 games as it hosted the OU/Nike Classic last weekend. Kristin Vesley, a freshman outfielder, led the Sooners going 4-for-8 from the plate in the tournament. She leads the team on the season with seven runs scored and has a .381 batting average.
Villanova opens its season at this weekend’s tournament. Last season Villanova had a 45-15 record but failed to make postseason play. Sara Carlson, a senior utility player, led the Wildcats with a .383 batting average, including three home runs and 16 doubles. She hopes to lead the team to its first NCAA Regional appearance.
LSU currently holds a five-game winning streak. Girouard liked the improvement the team made last weekend winning 4-of-5 games at the UNLV tournament and sweeping Northwestern State on Wednesday. She wants to see the same out of LSU this weekend.
“We want to play well and continue to get better.” Girouard said.