No. 18 LSU softball faces No. 12 Arizona in a nonconference series at Tiger Park, starting on Friday at 6 p.m.
This will be the first time the two have faced each other since 2016, when LSU lost 3-0 in a top-10 showdown at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Despite not playing each other in 10 years, the two have faced off in multiple high-stakes matchups. The most notable was in the 2015 NCAA Super Regionals, when the Tigers won the series 2-1 to advance to the Women’s College World Series.
In 2006, LSU lost its series against No. 1 Arizona 2-1 in the super regionals. Despite the loss, it marked the first time LSU beat the No. 1 team in the nation.
LSU is 10-5 against the Wildcats all-time, but in Baton Rouge, the Tigers are 2-0. With this weekend’s series at Tiger Park, it will be interesting to see if LSU’s home-field advantage helps it pull off an upset series win.
Recently, both teams have been in solid form, with Arizona at 12-4 since the start of Big 12 play and LSU at 7-3 in its last 10 games. Although Arizona has the better record on paper, the Wildcats have played an easier schedule. In this season’s matchups against SEC teams, Arizona is 1-4, while LSU is 6-9.
Both LSU and Arizona faced Oklahoma this season, and both lost their series 2-1.
Arizona showed more hitting capabilities in its win against the Sooners, racking up 11 runs to Oklahoma’s six. LSU beat Oklahoma off the back of great defense, holding the Sooners to only one run while recording three of its own.
The series will feature Arizona’s top-10 batting offense against LSU’s top-20, creating an interesting matchup that can be won by whichever team plays its brand of softball best.
Arizona averages an absurd eight runs per game and has only been shut out once this season, while LSU averages about 5.7 runs per game.
Arizona’s offense is led by two of the nation’s best batters in Sereniti Trice, who averages 1.5 hits per game, and Sydney Stewart, who averages 1.6 RBIs per game.
Jalen Adams and Riley Holder have held down the Wildcats’ mound this season. They’ve combined for a 25-8 record and a strong 4.41 ERA, complementing the high-powered offense.
LSU will have to focus on stalling Arizona’s batters through the contest. LSU pitchers Cece Cellura, Jayden Heavner, Tatum Clopton and Paytn Monticelli will all have to be prepared to play in multiple contests, either helping relieve or replacing another pitcher who falls into a slump.
If LSU produces the offense needed against Arizona, the Tigers’ depth should give them the advantage later in the contests, but it’s no easy task to keep the Wildcats from big runs.
Both these teams will be ready for battle this weekend, as they each need as many ranked series wins as possible with the SEC and BIG 12 championships just around the corner.
