The undefeated No. 5 LSU softball team’s lineup is making life difficult for opposing pitchers.
The Tigers pack some serious power, but more than anything, they refuse to go down without making an opposing pitcher work hard to retire them. LSU’s ability to make it difficult for opponents to record outs has translated into a team on-base percentage of .459.
“Any way you reach first, really, or move the runner in any way is a quality at-bat,” said freshman left fielder Emily Griggs.
LSU sees many pitches in its at-bats. In the series sweep of Arkansas last weekend, the Tigers faced 333 pitches from the Razorbacks in just 16 innings pitched, whereas LSU’s pitchers only threw 303 pitches in 19 innings. LSU forced Arkansas’ pitchers to throw nearly five more pitches per inning than LSU’s rotation.
In the series finale Sunday, LSU worked the Arkansas pitching staff into nine full counts. Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry said the team has focused on having quality at-bats that work the pitcher.
Seeing pitches allows the Tigers to learn about their opponents quickly, and lengthy at-bats enable the subsequent hitters to study the pitcher and learn how to attack her weaknesses. Even if an at-bat ends in an out, Griggs said it can still be valuable because she is able to relay what she learns to her team in the dugout.
LSU hitting coach Howard Dobson said the Tigers are learning from watching the batters in front of them.
“They’re starting to understand how people are pitching them, and they understand how they’re pitching to the people in front of them,” Dobson said.
Seeing pitches and learning from previous at-bats and those of their teammates has translated into tangible results. Of the seven LSU players to feature in every game this season, only one has an on-base percentage less than .400.
The Tigers have four players with on-base percentages higher than .500, meaning they reach base more frequently than they get out. Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews leads the way with an on-base percentage of .633. Junior shortstop Bianka Bell (.570), Griggs (.549) and Landry (.537) follow.
Landry has rarely had an off day at the plate this season, and she extended her program-record hit streak to 17 games in the series finale against Arkansas. LSU coach Beth Torina praised Landry’s skill-set following the Tigers’ 6-0 victory on Saturday, the day she set the record.
“[Landry] is one of the toughest outs in the lineup,” Torina said. “She’s a great offensive player. I’m glad that she’s on our team all the time, and we don’t have to try and face her because she has so many weapons. I don’t even know how you would even go about getting her out. She just does so many things so well.”
LSU will face its toughest test to date when the team travels to play undefeated No. 1 Florida for a three-game series this weekend. The Gators’ rotation is first in the Southeastern Conference in ERA, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.