LSU softball will be back in full-swing next month and it’s no secret that the program will have a competitive season ahead of itself.
Luckily for the Tigers, head coach Beth Torina knows how to build herself a vigorous roster.
Time and time again, pre-season headlines read that Torina’s pitching staff has been alluded to being dominant on the mound ahead of the first game. Tiger Park is not only the two-story clubhouse that hosts LSU’s opponents, but it’s also home to arguably one of the most dominant pitching programs in Division I softball.
So, has LSU’s pitching staff truly been dominant and will they continue this performance with the 2026 season just a month away?
The answer is simple: yes.
In SEC softball standings for 2025, LSU ranked at No. 4 overall for its performances on the mound. Specifically, the Tigers allowed the least amount of home runs out of all 16 conference teams, sitting at only 29 on the entire season. LSU also ranked No. 2 in the least amount of doubles allowed for opposing teams.
Sophomore Jayden Heavener returns to pitch for another season after being the No. 2 starter behind Sydney Berzon last season. As a freshman, Heavener secured 21 starts with 25 appearances, ending the season with a 13-5 record.
Torina has previously said that Heavener was special, and her performances from last season showed just that. Heavener had an overall ERA of 2.75 to end an impressive freshman year, counting for 152 strikeouts in 119.2 innings pitched.
Heavener pitched five shutout games in the 2025 season and set a program record for the least amount of hits allowed in a season with 68 hits. She ranked first in the SEC for the lowest opponent batting average, which was .164.
In addition to performance statistics, Heavener earned two Freshman of the Week honors and was named to DI Softball’s Freshman All-American Second team once the 2025 season concluded.
Tatum Clopton, a returning redshirt junior, looks to come back as the most experienced pitcher on LSU’s roster in terms of time spent on the team. Clopton slowly made her return last year from a season-ending injury that occurred during the 2022-2023 season. She finished 2025 with a 7-2 record with eight starts in 15 appearances.
During LSU’s fall ball scrimmages in October, Clopton was able to ease her way back into her usual groove on the bump. Her command appeared to be as tough as ever with precise pitching that stunned Jones College’s hitters. With Clopton fully recovered heading into this season, there’s no doubt she’s ready to display the hard work she’s put in during the offseason.
In addition to these two powerful returners, the Tigers signed Cali Deal and Lauryn Soeken, two freshman pitchers who will look to potentially step onto the mound this season in purple and gold to show Tiger fans what they have the capability to do.
In the portal, LSU picked up significant additions to the roster with pitchers Paytn Monticelli and Cece Cellura. Monticelli is a senior who will enter the season for LSU with a 9-4 record and 125 career strikeouts on a 2.67 ERA. Cellura steps on as a junior who marked a 27-14 record with 139 strikeouts on a 2.48 ERA.
If one thing’s for sure, Torina knows how to build a pitching staff that can command every opponent her team faces. While there are a few new faces in the rotation, this 2026 season ahead will be no different under the leadership of Torina.
