Maintaining a consistent, successful athletic program can be difficult, especially when it comes to bringing in new players year after year. Fortunately, for LSU softball, this hasn’t been a problem for going on five years now.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic cutting their 2020 season short, these graduate students are just now taking advantage of what is technically their fourth year on the team.
Five of the nine players on the field are graduate students hoping to continue leading the Tiger team to success.
Taylor Pleasants
Pleasants is starting her fifth year as a Tiger, and many are expecting her return to be nothing short of spectacular.
In the 2023 season, Pleasants suffered a partially torn oblique, which for most players would’ve meant sitting on the bench for the next two months. This wasn’t the case for Pleasants. She took it as an opportunity to learn something new.
Pleasants had to find a new way to succeed on the field, especially in the batter’s box, so she switched to the left side and began slapping. Being the athlete that she is, Pleasants still finished the season sitting at No. 3 with most hits on the team and led the team in doubles.
But being at the top is something that Pleasants is rather familiar with.
As a freshman, Pleasants started all 24 games for the Tigers at shortstop before the season got cut short. She finished with a .530 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage with four home runs, the first being a walk-off against Oklahoma State.
She won Freshman of the Week after leading the entire SEC in batting average in the first weekend of college softball that season, and the awards have continued to roll in ever since.
Since her freshman year, the Texas native has won a total of 22 awards, including 2023 SEC All-Defensive Team and the NFCA South All-Region First team.
In the summer of 2023, Pleasants was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the Japan All-Star Series.
Pleasants is expected to have a historical season, and many are excited to see what she will do next.
Ciara Briggs
It is safe to say that Ciara Briggs is a legend in the world of college softball.
Over the last two seasons, Briggs made history, winning back-to-back Golden Glove awards. She was the second player in the LSU program to win the award after A.J. Andrews in 2016 and is the only player to have ever won it two years in a row.
Briggs ended the 2023 season ranked No. 5 in the SEC with 64 hits, including two grand slams. She also scored the most runs for the Tigers, crossing home plate 46 times.
Similar to Pleasants, Briggs is a veteran in LSU’s softball program. She started in 22 of 24 games for LSU’s 2020 season, and led the freshman class in batting averages.
Since then, she hasn’t missed a game. The outfielder’s career has been legendary, and she’s more than capable of having another record-breaking season.
Briggs enters the 2024 season ranked No. 7 in LSU program’s history with a .356 career batting average and a .990 career fielding percentage.
The California native is on a two-season streak with no errors, and many are looking forward to watching her narrative continue in the 2024 season.
Hannah Carson
Carson is a rather new face to the LSU softball team.
Prior to attending LSU, Carson played for four years at Michigan. She had a successful career, ending her time with the Wolverines with a .306 batting average, nine home runs, 77 RBIs and a .994 career fielding percentage.
The catcher appeared in two games in the 2023 season with LSU before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
After having to pass the reins to true freshman Maci Bergeron, many fans are excited to watch Carson’s comeback, hoping to see her first full season in purple and gold.
Although senior Ali Newland ended up taking over at the Tiger’s starting catcher position in the 2023 season, Carson’s experience will allow Newland to reclaim her spot in the outfield, allowing LSU to have a more experienced defense overall.
Karli Petty
Petty is returning to LSU for her second year as a Tiger. Similar to Carson, Petty is also a transfer student.
Prior to attending LSU, Petty was a three-year letterwinner at Oklahoma State. She ended her career as a Cowgirl with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Petty is an award-winning second baseman, earning a .957 fielding percentage with 105 putouts, 96 assists and 15 double plays.
The Oklahoma native ended the 2023 season with 51 hits and a .287 batting average. She scored 26 times and batted in 35 runs.
Although Petty had nine errors in the 2023 season, she also had the most balls hit to her. She’s expected to continue being a consistent player for the Tigers in her final season on the field.
Raeleen Gutierrez
Gutierrez has made a name for herself in LSU athletics. In the 2023 season, she continued to be a solid producer for the Tigers.
Gutierrez ended the 2023 season with a .285 batting average. She had 43 hits, batting in 18 runs along with four stolen bases.
Along with a hot bat, the true utility player also had a solid season defensively.
Gutierrez ended the season with only seven errors out of the 381 balls thrown to her. She had a fielding percentage of .982.
After returning seven seniors, five being graduate students, the Tiger softball program is expected to excel in the 2024 season. The team is made of veterans with success and experience that make them capable of leading their team far into the postseason.
LSU should be a team to look out for, and could have a chance to make history in this upcoming season.
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