No. 16 LSU softball begins conference play in Knoxville this weekend against an undefeated No. 1 Tennessee.
The Tigers sit at 17-4 after finishing their final tournament of the regular season and the majority of their nonconference matchups. LSU is 15-0 at home, 1-0 away and 1-4 in neutral sites. It also holds a 10-game win streak.
In terms of the Tigers’ offense, fans have seen nothing but brilliance from firepower at-bats to patience at the plate.
Second baseman Sierra Daniel leads the Tigers offense with a .414 batting average and has started all 21 games that the Tigers have played. Daniel has scored 16 runs in 24 hits, tying with centerfielder Jalia Lassiter to lead the team in doubles at four. Daniel leads the team in walks with 17 and ranks No. 2 in the SEC in triples.
Lassiter, a senior captain, boasts a .377 batting average with 23 runs scored and 23 hits in 61 plate appearances. Following Lassiter on the stat sheet is sophomore utility Char Lorenz, holding a .286 average with 14 hits and 12 runs.
First baseman Tori Edwards started off her season a little slow, but she’s heated up to her usual performance nonetheless. The sophomore captain leads the team in home runs, clobbering four in her 56 plate appearances. Edwards also leads the team with 17 RBIs.
Sophomore Alix Franklin has had a breakout this season, showcasing the growing impact of LSU’s underclassmen in the lineup. Franklin boasts a .259 average with 12 RBIs in 14 hits. Franklin also leads the SEC with four triples.
LSU’s pitching rotation has been solid right behind its offense.
Sophomore Jayden Heavener has a 2.4 ERA with a 6-2 record. Heavener has made seven starts in 10 appearances, dealing 42 strikeouts to opponents. In the SEC, Heavener comes in the ranks No. 10 out of all conference pitchers for innings pitched.
Following Heavener, fifth-year senior Tatum Clopton holds a 5-1 record with a 1.09 ERA. Senior Paytn Monticelli is 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA. The Tigers also have solid arms in freshman Ashlin Mowery and Cali Deal.
Tennessee, the No. 1 team in the nation, is 20-0. The Lady Vols have won six games at home, one away and 13 at neutral sites.
Tennessee heads into the matchup with arguably the most dominant pitching staff in college softball.
Sophomore Erin Nuwer, 9-0, has a 0.19 ERA in 10 appearances with 48 strikeouts. Nuwer has only allowed one run and eight hits in 37.2 innings pitched. Nuwer ranks No. 1 in the SEC in opponent batting average, limiting batters to hit just .067.
Senior Karlyn Pickens is 6-0 with a 0.6 ERA, leading the staff in strikeouts with 68 in nine appearances. Pickens ranks at No. 9 amongst conference pitchers and No. 4 in strikeouts.
However, Pickens was just recently taken out of the game as the Lady Vols faced Belmont with some concern for her right arm. After being evaluated Tuesday and Wednesday, Tennessee released an update on Pickens and said that she suffered an arm strain. Pickens remains day-to-day.
Even with Pickens potentially out, the Lady Vols still have exceptional arms in Sage Mardjetko and Maddi Rutan. Mardjetko has four wins and a 0.67 ERA and Rutan claims one win with a 1.11 ERA.
Junior outfielder Sophia Knight leads the Vols’ offense with a .556 batting average, having started all 20 games that the team has played thus far. Knight has scored 26 runs on 35 hits in her 63 at-bats for the team.
In the SEC, Knight is ranked No. 3 in batting average, No. 2 in walks, No. 5 in hits and No. 4 in on-base percentage.
Behind Knight is junior outfielder Gabby Leach with a .393 batting average in 19 starts. Redshirt sophomore infielder Ella Dodge holds a .367 batting average and leads Tennessee with 30 RBIs in 49 at-bats.
The first weekend of conference play between these two teams is going to be a thriller regardless of who wins. For Tennessee, the undefeated team looks to remain that way. For the Tigers, a chance to upend the No. 1 team in the nation is motivation.
