No. 19 LSU softball will travel this weekend to take on No. 24 South Carolina, with hopes to add on to its single-game conference win streak.
The Tigers claimed their first conference victory in the final game of their series against Texas A&M Monday night in a 7-2 win. The win over the Aggies moved LSU’s conference record to 1-5, and overall at 19-9.
LSU leads the Gamecocks all-time with a 53-23 record, but is currently on a two-game losing streak against South Carolina after falling in the 2025 series against the conference opponent.
Last year, the Tigers stole the first game of that series after a lengthy rain delay occurred at Tiger Park. LSU claimed an 11-3 five-inning run-rule victory over the Gamecocks to open the series but, unfortunately fell in a doubleheader sweep for the final two.
For the Tigers’ offense this season, the leaders have been consistent, and it’s shown in the lineup with the two leadoff hitters. They have combined to draw a total of 39 walks against opposing pitchers.
Second baseman Sierra Daniel boasts a .338 batting average in 28 games played, scoring 20 runs with 14 RBIs. Centerfielder Jalia Lassiter follows right behind with a .329 average and 27 runs, 27 hits and 19 RBIs.
Sophomore Char Lorenz follows the two with a .286 average with 20 hits, tied with Alix Franklin and Kylee Edwards. Lorenz has knocked in 36 RBIs and has four home runs on the season.
The other two captains besides Lassiter — Tori Edwards and Maci Bergeron — have shown their patience at the plate as well. While both haven’t had a hot start to their season, the bats have been heating up as of late. Edwards leads the team with 20 RBIs and has clobbered five home runs, the most recent one being in Game 2 against Texas A&M.
Bergeron, a crucial defensive force behind the plate, has been breaking out of an early-season slump. All of Bergeron’s 16 hits this season have tallied RBIs, with two being home runs.
In the circle, sophomore Jayden Heavener leads the pitching staff with a 6-5 record and a 3.21 ERA across 10 starts and 13 appearances. Heavener has struck out 57 batters on the year so far.
Tatum Clopton follows behind Heavener with a 6-1 record and a 1.62 ERA across six starts. Clopton just recently gained her sixth win over Texas A&M in the final game of the Tigers’ recent series, where she pitched all seven innings and threw 130 pitches.
The Tigers will see a Gamecocks team that sits at 20-10 overall and 0-3 in conference play after being swept by No. 2 Texas to open conference play. South Carolina currently holds a five-game win streak, with the past three wins all being walk-offs.
Quincee Lilio leads the team’s offense with a .415 batting average through 30 games played. The redshirt senior outfielder has scored 29 runs, 36 hits and 16 RBIs. Lilio also leads the team in walks, earning 26.
Karley Shelton doesn’t need to be introduced to the Gamecocks’ opponents. The junior second baseman has had the most at-bats out of every player in the SEC so far, with 103 plate appearances. She’s tied at No. 4 in the SEC in doubles, leading her team with 10. Last year, Shelton placed fifth in Gamecocks’ program history with 58 hits in just her sophomore season.
In addition, South Carolina’s pitching staff has been able to hold its own. Junior right-hander Emma Friedel leads the staff in the circle in her first season with the Gamecocks at 8-3 with a 3.26 ERA and 53 strikeouts. Following her is senior pitcher Jori Heard, who is 4-2 with a 1.50 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
The first game of the series will begin Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Columbia, South Carolina, at the Carolina Softball Stadium.
