No. 16 LSU Softball is coming off of a sweep of the Baton Rouge Regional of the NCAA tournament and is preparing to face No. 1 Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional. 

Alabama is known for its intense softball environment, and the Tigers are anticipating the fire that comes with the Tide. 

“We’re expecting heat, we’re honestly expecting everything,” LSU Pitcher Paytn Monticelli said. 

“We know Alabama is going to bring it to us and we wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s super exciting… Alabama is a great place to play and it’s going to be super intense because of the whole LSU-Alabama rivalry.” 

LSU’s dominant regional weekend was characterized by its elite pitching.

All three starting pitchers threw complete games and only allowed two runs over the weekend. 

“I think the performance of Cece [Celuura], Jayden [Heavener], and myself has just been everything we’ve been working on finally led to this moment where things are finally coming together,” Monticelli said. 

“I’m excited to see how coach puzzles us in over the next couple of weeks.” 

Monticelli spoke about how the confidence of this Tiger team comes from their ability to trust their teammates. 

“I think the best thing is that we’re confident in each other and not just confident in ourselves. It’s easy to play out here when you’re surrounded by girls who have all the confidence and all of the swag that we need.” 

When asked what the team needs to do to make it to the World Series, catcher Maci Bergeron said that building on the trust they already have will take them where they need to go. 

“I think trusting our preparation, staying together, trusting in the process and not letting the moment get too big,” Bergeron said. 

LSU is looking to upset the No. 1 team in the nation over the weekend, and punch a ticket to the first World Series appearance for LSU since 2017. 

The Tigers will face Alabama in the first game of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional on Friday, May 22 at 7PM on ESPN2.