After taking two of three games against previously undefeated No. 1 Florida at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this past weekend, the No. 3 LSU softball team hosts Nicholls State University at 6 p.m. today at Tiger Park.
The Tigers’ (27-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) offense continued its hot streak against the Gators (28-2, 1-2 SEC), the best pitching staff LSU had faced to date, scoring 27 runs across three games and out-hitting the Gators, 36-17.
The Colonels (16-8, 4-2 Southland Conference) are 7-2 in their last 9 games and carry a 2-2 away record to Tiger Park this weekend. However, the Colonels are 8-4 in neutral site games, displaying their ability to play away from home.
Nicholls’ pitching staff will attempt to beat an LSU team that has outscored opponents, 226-45. Junior pitcher Hannah Haydel, who is 9-3 with a 1.58 ERA, leads the Colonels’ rotation. She has held opponents to a .191 batting average and has accumulated 50 strikeouts.
The Tigers have averaged more than eight runs per game this season with a team batting average of .374 and a team on-base percentage of .459.
The Tigers have two players, junior shortstop Bianka Bell and senior center fielder A.J. Andrews, batting at least .500. Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry and freshman left fielder Emily Griggs are both hitting better than .400.
Those four players all have on-base percentages better than .500 with Andrews leading the way at .625.
The power hitters have been lethal, too. The Tigers have hit 29 home runs and driven in 208 runs. LSU’s offensive attack has racked up 421 total bases and has accumulated a slugging percentage of .597.
Sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish has blasted 11 home runs. Going into the weekend, Jaquish’s 45 RBIs were good enough for first in the nation. Bell has hit nine home runs, and junior catcher Kellsi Kloss has added four, including a game-winning grand slam Saturday against Florida.
It isn’t just the LSU offense shouldering the load — the pitching staff is doing its part to help the Tigers to victory.
LSU’s pitching staff is 27-1 with a 1.36 ERA. The rotation has combined to hold
opponents to a .190 batting average and has only given up 34 earned runs. Opponents have only scored more than three runs on four occasions against the Tigers this season.
Freshman pitcher Allie Walljasper leads the way with an 8-0 record and a 1.09 ERA. Sophomore pitcher Baylee Corbello threw the team’s only no-hitter of the season and the first of her career in a 11-0 win against Northwestern State on March 3.
Freshman pitcher Carley Hoover is 7-1 and leads the team in strikeouts (67). Sophomore pitcher Kelsee Selman is 6-0 and has held opponents to a .181 batting average.
LSU’s pitching staff will have to shut down a Nicholls lineup that has a .315 batting average and an on-base percentage of .396.
Sophomore third baseman/catcher Haley Stevenson and junior infielder Alexis Huss lead the Nicholls lineup. Stevenson is batting .437 and has an on-base percentage of .474, and Huss is hitting .392 with three home runs and 19 RBIs.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.