The No. 5 LSU softball team’s series sweep against Arkansas gives the Tigers (25-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) a perfect start to league play. But Sunday’s 7-1 win against the Razorbacks (12-10, 0-3 SEC) was much more meaningful considering this year’s team now owns the longest win streak in program history.
“It shows the strength of our team because we’re not facing weak opponents at all — this is the SEC,” sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish said. “Our offense is just on point, our pitching is on point and I’m really proud of my team.”
Today wasn’t the only time this season the LSU softball team made history.
LSU’s 10-2 win against Nebraska on Feb. 21 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic gave it the best start in program history (15-0). The win came the day after the Tigers defeated Arizona, the team who ended their season last year, to tie the record.
A 15-1 beatdown of Northwestern State extended the Tigers’ unbeaten start to 20-0. The figure represented the best opening to a season by any LSU sports team in history, besting LSU baseball’s 19-0 start in 1997.
The team seems to rewrite the record book every weekend, but it remains as focused as ever. LSU coach Beth Torina said the Tigers get a day to celebrate their accomplishments, but then they show up like they’re winless.
“We try to take nothing for granted and not let complacency get us, and we just try and go back to work right away,” Torina said.
Sunday’s win was the perfect testament to LSU’s ability to continue pressing on and keep working despite breaking records.
The Tigers already had the series won by claiming victories in the opening two games. However, just winning a series is not what this team’s goals are in 2015.
“I told the team, just winning the two games is not what they’re trying to do,” Torina said following Saturday’s 6-0 win. “If they’re trying to win the SEC, they have to win every game they get an opportunity to win.”
By immediately focusing on the next game, LSU picked up the historic 25th straight win on Sunday and left its mark on LSU history once again.
It wasn’t just the team making history this weekend. Several individuals also etched their names in the LSU record book.
Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry set an LSU record Saturday by hitting safely for the 16th consecutive game, passing the previous record set most recently by her teammate, senior center fielder A.J. Andrews. Landry extended her hitting streak to 17 games in Sunday’s series finale.
Junior shortstop Bianka Bell also made a lasting impression on Saturday with the 34th home run of her LSU career, surpassing former LSU outfielder Rachel Mitchell for the most of all time.
Bell turned around Sunday and collected a hit in her only at-bat of the game. She also drew three walks on the day. Two of those were intentional and one set up Jaquish’s grand slam.
“I just know it’s over now,” Bell said. “I wasn’t really worried about it, and I just came back today just thinking, ‘It’s a new day, just try to stay within myself and not try to do too much and just focus on the team, not myself.’”
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.