Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews steps into the batter’s box with a full count. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Andrews draws a walk.
Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry drops a perfect bunt toward third base and beats the throw to first easily.
Freshman left fielder Emily Griggs waits for an offspeed pitch and dashes to second.
Although Andrews, Landry and Griggs bring an individualized arsenal of tools to the LSU softball team’s dynamic lineup, the trio shares a style of batting known as “slapping” that utilizes all of their skills at the plate.
The basis of slapping is blazing speed, which Andrews, Landry and Griggs all share.
“One thing is that they are [all] fast, which is God-given,” said LSU assistant coach Howard Dobson. “We can make you
faster, but we can’t make you fast.”
Normal batters stand in the box and wait for a pitch.
Slappers, on the other hand, start in the back of the box and run at the pitcher before either bunting, placing the ball in gaps in the defense or hard-slapping the ball into the outfield.
While a power hitter’s goal is to hit home runs and drive in runs, a slapper’s aim is to get the ball into play and use her speed to reach first.
“Basically, when you’re slapping, you are kind of getting a head start,” Andrews said. “Normally, people who slap are quicker, faster. It’s more about placement. What people would describe as a really good slapper is someone who can place the ball really well.”
Although all slappers are quick and can bunt, there are two main kinds of slappers: soft slappers and hard slappers.
Placement is critical for soft slappers, whose main goal is to move the defense enough so they can use their speed reach first, Andrews said. Two ways a soft slapper can get on base is by hitting in the gap between the third baseman and the shortstop or getting a high bounce on a hit in the infield.
“Soft-slapping is more of a touch and go,” said LSU volunteer assistant Kara Dill. “It works well for the ones who are super fast. They put it on the ground and get to first.”
Hard slappers use power at the plate to rip singles to the outfield wall and use their speed to get extra-base hits. Andrews is mainly a hard slapper and leads the Southeastern Conference with seven triples.
While Griggs Andrews and Landry work together as No. 9, No. 1 and No. 2 in the lineup, respectively, they are able to set up the Tigers’ power hitters: junior shortstop Bianka Bell and sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish.
Despite hitting at the bottom of the order, Griggs has posted a .425 batting average and a .549 on-base percentage in her 21 starts this season.
In her fourth season as LSU’s leadoff hitter, Andrews leads the Tigers and is tied for the SEC lead with 24 walks. She has a .633 on-base percentage, which is good for second in the conference.
Landry has developed into one of the most consistent offensive threats for LSU. She has earned at least one hit in a program record of 17-straight games this season.
The trio has excelled in setting up the power hitters this season. They average a .573 on-base percentage and have combined for 76 runs and 83 hits through LSU’s first 25 games.
Andrews, Landry and Griggs’ versatility at the plate puts pressure on defenses, which will be key this weekend when the Tigers battle undefeated No. 1 Florida.
“There is no right answer for them,” Dobson said. “[Opponents] have to pick and choose their poison. They just have to decide which [defense] they are going to do and how they are going to play them. [The defense is] just hoping that they miss a pitch because really and truly they can do whatever they want to do.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.