The LSU softball team was looking to make history April 11 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Tigers were trying to close out Game 2 to claim their first series win in Knoxville in program history. Leading 6-2 in the fifth inning and looking to add to the lead, the Tigers didn’t rely on their big bats, but rather their guile on the basepaths.
Sophomore second baseman Constance Quinn was standing on first base and took off to steal second. Tennessee sophomore catcher Annie Aldrete threw down to try to catch Quinn stealing, but the throw ended up costing her team a run.
As Quinn slid safely into second, junior first baseman Sandra Simmons was already sprinting home to extend LSU’s lead to 7-2. LSU held on and claimed a historic 7-4 victory.
The Tigers stole four bases and scored two runs on sacrifice flies that weekend, displaying they’re an active team on the basepaths.
“Baserunning is one of those fundamentals a lot of people don’t really focus on, but every day before practice we definitely work on baserunning,” said sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry.
LSU is 56 of 68 stealing bases this season. That figure is good for 7th in the SEC and means LSU is successful 82 percent of the time it tries to steal a base.
Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews said the Tigers focus on reading the situation in practice to prepare for the game.
“You basically have to read it well, so we practice reads a lot,” Andrews said. “It just enables us to really get a good feel in the game because of what we do in practice so that we’re really aggressive and taking the next base before the team really even notices.”
The Tigers have spread the stolen bases around this season. Although Andrews and freshman left fielder Emily Griggs are the only players to record double-digit steals so far, eight different Tigers have stolen at least one base.
Andrews said speed throughout the lineup allows the Tigers to be more aggressive. Andrews leads the team in steals, going 20 of 21 on the basepaths in the No. 1 spot in LSU’s lineup, and Griggs follows with a 12 of 15 mark in the No. 9 slot.
“We’re pretty speedy, so it makes it a little easier for us than other teams,” Andrews said. “We have speed all around, not even just the slappers so that’s what makes it easier for us too, to be so aggressive because we have people who are able and can take those bases a lot easier than others.”
The Tigers don’t just steal bases, they’re always looking for opportunities tag up on fly balls. In fact, they lead the SEC in sacrifice flies (21) and have more than doubled last season’s total (10). It’s a testament not only to the hitter doing her job, but the baserunner being ready to take the next base.
Landry said looking to take bases stems from an aggressive mindset.
“If you see it, you react,” Landry said. “It’s just part of the game, how you’ve always played and how they teach us to play here as well, just being aggressive.”