Last season, the LSU softball team lived and died on the arm of then-freshman ace Baylee Corbello.
But in 2015, the No. 3 Tigers depend on their young rotation of three pitchers along with Corbello to shut down opponents. For the first season since arriving in Baton Rouge, LSU coach Beth Torina has the confidence in her pitching staff to depend on matchups at the plate instead of relying on a particular ace.
“It’s amazing to have all four of these arms,” Torina said. “It’s a huge difference maker in this season that people don’t really know who to be prepared for on any given day. We always have that in our back pocket.”
The Tigers’ diverse staff has established itself as one of the top rotations in the Southeastern Conference by consistently shutting down top offenses and baffling elite hitters.
LSU’s staff is second in the SEC with a 1.70 ERA, 332 strikeouts, 89 strikeouts looking, 98 runs allowed and 41 wins. The Tigers lead the conference with 33 complete games this season.
The Tigers’ dominance is built on each pitcher’s distinctive style in the circle and ability to step up when she gets an opportunity.
Although Corbello is the Tigers’ most battle-tested pitcher, freshman pitchers Carley Hoover (12-2) and Allie Walljasper (12-2) have excelled against top lineups early in their LSU careers.
Against then-No. 6 Oklahoma on March 20, Hoover shut out the Sooners’ elite lineup for the first time in 2015, earning her third win against a ranked opponent. She held Oklahoma’s power-hitting duo of senior infielders Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendleton to 0-for-6 at the plate.
“Just to be able to be on the same field as the players that I was playing against tonight is pretty incredible,” Hoover said after the win against Oklahoma. “They’re amazing players.”
In her first season, Walljasper’s versatility and consistency in the circle have translated into 86 and two-thirds innings pitched and staff-leading 15 starts.
As the Tigers’ workhorse, Walljasper leads the rotation with a 1.37 ERA and 11 complete games.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsee Selman (8-0) has drastically improved in 2015 after struggling in league play during her freshman campaign.
After dropping Game 3 of the Tigers’ series in 2014, Selman said she went into LSU’s 2015 top-two showdown with Florida this season with a determination to shut down the Gators on their home field.
In Game 3 on March 15, Selman held Florida to three runs on four hits and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts, clinching the series for LSU.
Although carrying a lighter load this season, Corbello (9-2) has thrived under pressure and delivered some of the Tigers’ most important wins this season, including a must-win Game 3 victory against Kentucky on March 29.
After LSU dropped the first two games against the Wildcats, Torina turned to Corbello in Game 3 to avoid a sweep. Corbello responded by shutting out the Wildcats and tallying eight strikeouts in her sixth complete game of the season.
“She was unbelievable [in Game 3],” Torina said. “It may have been the best game I’ve ever seen her pitch.”
Despite its success this season, LSU’s rotation has struggled to close series during the final stretch of SEC play.
In their last two conference series, the Tigers’ pitchers have allowed 10 walks, 10 earned runs, 15 hits and three home runs in the final games of both series. Selman and Corbello combined for eight walks and seven strikeouts in Game 3 against then-No. 24 Texas A&M on Monday night.
The Tigers’ rotation aims to learn from its mistakes and get back on track in their final SEC road series against No. 15 Missouri this weekend.
“We’re looking at the rest of the games this year,” Hoover said after the loss to Texas A&M. “Just really being prepared and working our butts off for the next seven games before the [SEC] Tournament.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.