The No. 17 LSU softball team opens its season with a Top-25 showdown against No. 10 Texas at 6 p.m. tonight in Tiger Park.
The opener marks the Tigers’ first game since their loss to University of Louisiana at Lafayette in last year’s NCAA Regional.
Missing the College World Series last season has fueled the team to make the CWS this year.
“That is something that we want to work every single day to make sure something like that doesn’t happen to this program again,” said head coach Beth Torina. “We want to get to accomplish our ultimate goal of going to the college world series every single year.”
Torina’s theme for the 2014 season is “Locked In,” which she describes as the embodiment of the focus the team has on not only getting to the CWS, but winning it.
“Locked in means that all of us are locked in on the same goal, the same mindset. We are all ready to make it to the World Series,” said LSU junior outfielder A.J. Andrews. “We all have to stick together to win.”
The tough early schedule will test the Tigers’ veterans and freshmen alike and prepare the team for the tough Southeastern Conference schedule.
Following the graduation of Rachele Fico, senior pitcher Ashley Czechner steps to the forefront of the rotation.
Statistically, the Tigers seem to be in good hands. Pitching behind Fico in 2013, Czechner had a 12-1 record and a 2.64 ERA.
Czechner also recorded three top-25 wins last year, including No. 17 Kentucky, No. 12 Missouri and No. 4 Alabama.
“[Czechner] had a great year last year. She kept us in the ballgame against honestly anyone we put her in against,” Torina said.
The offensive firepower in the Tigers’ lineup should relieve some of the pressure put on Czechner.
The lineup will feature Co-SEC Freshman of the Year Bianka Bell, who led the team in home runs last year with 12.
Although power hitters like Bell, sophomore Kellsi Kloss and sophomore Sandra Simmons led the lineup statistically, speed is still the heart of the offense.
Andrews, senior outfielder Simone Heyward, Bell and Simmons combined for 55 stolen bases in 2013.
“I think we are still going to rely a lot on our speed game,” Torina said. “I think it would be crazy not to because they are so talented. I think our speed is unbelievable with A.J. Andrews, Jacee Blades and Simone Heyward.”