For Tori Edwards, hitting it out of the park is nothing new. She finished last season with 18 home runs, four Grand Slams, 71 RBI’s, and a .403 batting average, making her one of the most consistent and reliable hitters for the Tigers’ lineup.
But her dominance doesn’t just stop at the plate. As an LSU first baseman, Edwards put up 319 putouts and a .988 fielding percentage with eight assists and four errors.
All of that hard work has earned Edwards a new role as one of the LSU Softball captains.
“It was a role I needed to take on,” Edwards said. “There’s a lot that comes with being a leader, and it definitely can be hard at times, and a lot of people look up to you, so just mentally preparing for that was the biggest challenge, but I’m really at a comfortable spot now, and I’m excited to play and keep leading everyone around me.”
After such a strong performance her sophomore year, consistency and playing hard are Edwards’ and the team’s main goals as they aim to make it to the College World Series.
“I just want to stay consistent,” Edwards said. “I don’t want to have any doubts or feel like I let anyone down in any spots. I kind of just accepted that even if I’m not performing at my best, I can still be there for my teammates and help everyone around me, so I’m just going to continue to try and do that. Stay consistent, and then again, for the team, just wanting us to play hard every single day. We have the talent. We have the diversity, the variety, so if we go out there and just play like we know how to play, we should be perfectly fine.”
Her leadership and talent haven’t gone unnoticed. Besides earning her teammates’ trust, Head Coach Beth Torina says what separates her from other SEC players is her combination of skills and intelligence, which are qualities of being a great captain.
“When the ball comes off her bat, you should back up,” Torina said. “Her exit velocity is incredible, and she’s also intelligent, but not just a student in the game, but smart in life, so all of those factors. She’s an incredible athlete.”
Whether it’s delivering on the field or stepping up with leadership, Edwards is setting the standard for LSU Softball.
Looking to keep their win streak going, LSU Softball will head on the road Thursday, Feb. 12, to take on Nebraska. You can watch on ESPN, where Edwards will be in action.
