The No. 14 LSU softball team plays away from Tiger Park for the first time this season at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California.  
The Tigers (11-0) will play a doubleheader against San Diego State at 8 p.m. followed by a matchup with Cal State Fullerton at 10:30 p.m. tonight at the Big League Dreams Complex.
The doubleheader against the Aztecs (7-2) and the Titans (7-3) are the first two games in a tournament LSU coach Beth Torina said will be an early season test for the Tigers.
“These kids love a challenge, that’s why they came to LSU — to play good teams,” Torina said. “We’ll put them up against the best and see what we’re capable of.”
San Diego State swept last weekend’s 25th Campbell/Cartier Classic, winning its four games by outscoring opponents 21-9. The Aztecs only two losses this season came to ranked foes in No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 12 UCLA at the SoCal Collegiate Classic in the opening weekend.
Cal State Fullerton slid into the rankings at No. 25 after going 4-1 in the SoCal Collegiate Classic. However, losses to Nevada and Utah Valley at the Wilson/Demarini Desert Classic saw the team fall out of the latest poll.
The Tigers continue play on Friday with a game against No. 13 Arizona at 5:30 p.m.
The Wildcats (9-0) ended LSU’s season last year. The Tigers and Wildcats played three times at the Tucson NCAA Regional. Arizona went 2-1 against the Tigers, winning the rubber match 13-5 to advance to the Super Regionals.
Sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish said the team will approach the game like any other.
“They’re going to give us a run for our money, but we’re going to come out and try to play the same game we always play, have a lot of grit and hopefully come out with a win,” Jaquish said. 
The Tigers wrap up play on Saturday with a game against Nebraska at noon followed by a matchup with Northwestern at 7 p.m. 
The Huskers (4-6) started the season 4-1 at the Hotel Encanto Invitational in Las Cruces, New Mexico, exploding for 55 runs across the five games. However, five straight losses at the Unconquered Invitational last weekend saw Nebraska plummet out of the top-25.
Northwestern (3-6) started the season 2-0 but lost six straight games before recording a win in its last outing. Four of the Wildcats’ six losses came to foes currently ranked in the top-25.
Several LSU players said they are especially excited for this trip because they will have an opportunity to play in front of friends and family in Palm Springs.
Jaquish, junior first baseman Sandra Simmons, freshman pitcher Allie Walljasper, senior utility player Kailey McCasland, and junior catcher Kellsi Kloss are all from California. Walljasper said she has been waiting for the opportunity to play in front of her family as an LSU Tiger. 
“It’s going to be awesome,” Walljasper said. “I’ve been wanting this for four years now, and I finally get to play in front of all my family being a Tiger.”
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.