Editor’s Note: All statistics and information in this story are accurate at time of print.
Last season, the LSU softball team smashed a program record of 65 home runs. This season, it has already hit 53.
With Wednesday night’s game against Southeastern, this weekend’s series against Auburn, the Southeastern Conference Tournament and the NCAA Regionals remaining on the schedule, the team has a chance to equal or best last season’s record.
LSU has players who have displayed power throughout the lineup, but it’s the middle of the lineup that has done most of the heavy lifting. Junior shortstop Bianka Bell, sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish and junior catcher Kellsi Kloss have proven to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers, frequently taking pitches to the distance.
“It’s pretty special to have hitters that are all that talented and be able to stack them up in a row and be able to watch them play,” said LSU coach Beth Torina.
The trio has combined to hit 43 home runs and drive in 159 runs from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 spots in LSU’s lineup.
Bell bats third in LSU’s lineup and has been not only one of the most productive players at LSU, but in the entire country, earning a spot as a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Bell leads LSU in batting average (.474), on-base percentage (.539) and hits (74).
Bell’s power numbers have been equally impressive. The Tampa, Florida, native has hit a career-high 15 home runs, racked up 60 RBIs, collected a team-leading 137 total bases and earned a team-best slugging percentage of .878. Bell’s accomplishments earned her a place on the USA Softball Women’s National Team, which was announced Monday.
Facing Bell has been tough for opposing pitchers, and the batters who follow her in the lineup haven’t been much easier to get out.
Batting in the cleanup spot, Jaquish has become one of the best power hitters in program history.
Before the season began, former outfielder Rachel Mitchell’s 33 career home runs was an LSU record. Bell broke the record in less than three seasons, and Jaquish passed Mitchell’s mark in less than two years, totaling 34 long balls heading into LSU’s game against Southeastern.
Jaquish has hit 17 home runs this spring to tie the program’s single-season record, a mark she set in 2014. She leads the team with 64 RBIs, and her .772 slugging percentage is second only to Bell.
Kloss rounds out the powerful trio in the No. 5 spot in LSU’s lineup. She has hit 11 home runs, accumulated 92 total bases, driven in 35 runs and has a slugging percentage of .639.
“It’s awesome to be in a spot right in the middle of Bianka and Kellsi,” Jaquish said. “I mean, that’s crazy. I really learn a lot from their at bats, so they really help me out. It’s just a lot of fun being able to be with them and hitting.”
Kloss is on pace to set new personal best single-season marks in nearly every offensive category.
LSU also has accomplished players hitting before and after the trio in the lineup. Jaquish said the trio is on its game, but opposing teams can’t take anyone for granted in the lineup.
“We have something pretty rare and pretty special with our lineup,” Kloss said. “What’s cool about Sahvanna, Bianka and I is that we’re surrounded by such speed and such other cool weapons that it makes it easy for us because they put themselves on base for us.”
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.