The LSU softball team will host a three-game weekend series against No. 12 South Carolina (13-3, 2-1 SEC), beginning with a double header noon Saturday, and finishing noon Sunday.
The Gamecocks rediscovered their offense Sunday in their last match against Mississippi State, scoring seven runs on 10 hits, defeating Mississippi State 7-4.
Senior Samantha Jennings batted 3-for-4, including her sixth home run of the season. Jennings also tied the Gamecocks’ school record with four runs scored in her last game.
Starting pitching, carried by the arm of Stacey Johnson (7-0), played a big part in the Gamecocks’ victory. Johnson pitched 6.1 innings and allowed one run on four hits.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said this weekend’s series against South Carolina should be more competition for LSU.
“They’re traditionally a top-notch program,” Girouard said. “They were one of the first SEC teams to play fast pitch softball. They’re led by a hall of fame coach, and their team presents a lot of problems.”
Girouard said the Tigers will have to be productive on offense this weekend, and one player Girouard is depending on is right fielder Camille Harris, who struggled in her last outing, batting 0-for-2.
“Our bats will have to be on fire,” Girouard said. “Camille Harris isn’t swinging the bat like she was at the beginning of the season, but the funny thing is she’s exactly where she was at this point last season. We’ve got to get her back, she’s such a weapon, she’s the fastest player on our team. She’s got to get on base more-we need her speed.”
One thing coach Girouard will not have to worry about is senior pitcher Kristin Schmidt, who allowed three hits in five innings in her shutout victory against Southern Mississippi.
LSU (23-4, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) is on a roll, winning 18 of its last 19 games. The No. 4 Tigers are fresh off an 8-0 victory at Southern Mississippi on Wednesday, busting the game open in the top of the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Lauren Delahoussaye.
“We just have so many weapons,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard after LSU’s victory against Southern Miss. “Some of them are going to sleep a little bit and some of them are resurrecting. That’s the great thing about our lineup.”
Some of those weapons went off, including junior catcher Leigh Ann Danos, who was named the Louisiana Hitter of the Week by the Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association on Tuesday. Danos earned the weekly honor by going a combined 4-for-9 with a team-best .444 batting average last week against both Mississippi State and Tennessee.
Against Mississippi State, Danos went 3-for-3, including a home run, three RBIs and a scored run.
Danos is the second Tiger to be named player of the week, behind sophomore Stephanie Hill, earning the same honor last week.