Three members of the LSU softball team were named to All-Southeastern Conference teams, the LSU Athletic Department announced Wednesday.
Junior outfielder/pitcher Kirsten Shortridge was a first-team All-SEC selection, while junior outfielder Jazz Jackson was named to the second team. Freshman shortstop Juliana Santos was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
The Tigers have had 12 first-team members in 13 seasons since softball was reinstated at LSU in 1997, including current junior outfielder Rachel Mitchell last season.
Shortridge ranks third in the SEC with a .430 batting average, which only trails former Tiger Ashee Ducote’s .431 average in 2000 for best in school history.
The Baylor transfer has also stolen 24 bases to go along with 74 hits.
“People talk about five-tool athletes and Kirsten goes beyond that,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard in a news release. “There’s no question that she is a most dynamic player on the field. She possesses so many weapons from her speed and power on offense to go along with her range on defense in centerfield to the ability to pitch a shutout.”
This is Jackson’s second time on the second team. She also earned the honor as a freshman in 2007.
She has hit safely in 20 of 25 conference games with a .322 average on the season.
“Jazz had one of her best seasons as a Tiger,” Girouard said. “She returned to the level we know she can play at producing key hits and turning in an excellent defensive season.”
Santos is third on the team with 25 RBI and has started 47 of LSU’s 48 games this season. She also has four home runs and a .278 batting average.
“Juliana is not your prototypical shortstop with a big-cannon arm, but she makes all the plays that those players make,” Girouard said. “The thing I love about her the most is that she’s a fighter, who goes all-out, all the time.”
LSU begins SEC tournament play Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
 
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