EDITOR’S NOTE: All statistics and information in this story are accurate at time of print on April 20.
For most coaches, being behind at any point during a game is a concern, questioning any number of pre-game decisions or in-game adjustments.
But LSU coach Beth Torina doesn’t think that way. Although trailing has been a rarity for the No. 3 Tigers this season, Torina’s confidence in her offense never swayed no matter the score or the inning.
Torina’s mantra is simple — “When you have offense, you have hope.”
The Tigers (41-5, 13-4 Southeastern Conference) have backed up Torina’s faith by evolving into one of most dynamic offenses in the country with their consistent performances at the plate and ability to score in many ways.
Six of the eight Tigers who have started more than 40 games this season are batting better than .350 this season, while sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry and junior shortstop Bianka Bell are hitting above .460.
Just 46 games into the season, LSU is 55 runs away from breaking the single-season record of 385 runs the 2004 LSU squad that reached Women’s College World Series set in 69 games.
Unlike many lineups that feature pure specialists, LSU’s order is filled with players who can give an opponent’s pitcher entirely different looks depending on the situation, which gives the Tigers’ the confidence to rally back from deficits.
“One through nine, we have so many available [options] to score runs,” Landry said. “Just having the energy and knowing that we have to do our job … and not press. Just play our game.”
The Tigers’ success starts at the top of the lineup with senior center fielder A.J. Andrews and Landry, who have combined for 51 walks and 27 stolen bases this season.
The pair’s mix of speed and power at the plate translated into 29 extra-base hits this season. Andrews leads the Tigers with eight triples, while Landry trails only Bell with 11 doubles on the year.
“They’re so fast on the bases that a fly ball into shallow outfield, they can tag and score on it,” said LSU assistant coach Howard Dobson. “The big hitters are just excited to get a pitch to handle and hit it somewhere to let the other players run.”
In the heart of the Tigers’ lineup comes one of the most feared power-hitting duos in the nation — Bell and sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish.
Bell and Jaquish set their sights on the record books, notching a combined 29 home runs and 120 RBIs so far in 2015.
Against Arkansas on March 7, Bell broke the LSU career home run record with her 34th career homer.
After breaking the single-season record with 17 homers in 2014, Jaquish is only one home run away from tying her own record and one RBI away from breaking the program single-season RBI record.
Despite their record-setting season, the Tigers remained focused on chasing a greater prize — their first national championship.
“Records are cool, but they are meant to be broken,” Jaquish said. “Championships never are broken. They never die, so that’s something our team is focusing on this year and not breaking records.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.