The No. 3 LSU softball team hits the road for a series against No. 15 Missouri beginning tomorrow at 2 p.m. at University Field in Columbia, Missouri.
LSU (41-6, 13-5 Southeastern Conference) lost its last game to No. 25 Texas A&M but still claimed the series by winning the first two games. Missouri (32-10, 11-7 SEC) is riding a seven-game win streak, with six of the wins coming via the mercy rule.
“They can run, they can hit for power, they can hit for average, they can pitch,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “It’s going to be a tough, tough challenge for us, and playing at their place this weekend is going to be really tough as well.”
Missouri has compiled a batting average of .325, has an on-base percentage of .434 and has hit 56 home runs this spring.
Junior shortstop Sami Fagan leads Mizzou with a .390 batting average to go along with 11 home runs, 54 RBIs and 98 total bases. Junior outfielder Taylor Gadbois is hitting .366 and has been a terror on the base paths. Her 30 stolen bases are enough for second in the SEC.
Mizzou also has two accomplished pitchers in the circle to go with its lineup.
Sophomore pitcher Tori Finucane leads the team in wins (17), ERA (2.98) and opposing batting average (.246). Finucane is right-handed and is complemented by freshman left-handed pitcher Paige Lowary. Lowary is 14-3 and with an ERA of 3.06. Lowary leads the team with 117 strikeouts.
Missouri’s pitching staff will test LSU’s potent lineup. LSU is hitting .352 and has outscored opponents 332-98.
Junior shortstop Bianka Bell leads LSU with a .477 batting average. She has hit 13 home runs and has 57 RBIs. Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry is batting .456, has an on-base percentage of .512 and has racked up 36 RBIs in the No. 2 spot in LSU’s lineup.
Bell, sophomore third baseman/catcher Sahvanna Jaquish and junior catcher Kellsi Kloss have combined for 40 home runs and 154 RBIs in the 3-5 slots in the lineup.
LSU is still receiving solid performances from its pitching staff. The rotation is 41-6 with a 1.70 ERA and has held opponents to a .205 batting average.
Torina said LSU needs to cut down walks and errors heading into this weekend’s series. LSU committed two errors and allowed 8 free passes in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to Texas A&M, and LSU has scattered 12 errors across its last five losses.
“We need to improve giving people things for free, giving away free passes both defensively [and] on the mound,” Torina said. “If we could take away a lot of those things we’re giving them defensively, we change several of the last losses we have. We save ourselves a lot of runs if we can make plays and we can make quality pitches and throw strikes.”
Jaquish stressed the importance of minimizing mistakes because the teams on LSU’s schedule take full advantage of any free gifts.
“We really need to focus on making less errors, if any at all because teams really capitalize that, especially teams as good as the teams that are in the SEC,” Jaquish said.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.