The LSU softball team has opened fall camp the week as the team comes off its fifth Super Regional appearance under head coach Beth Torina. 
The Tigers are expected to continue to be Women’s College World Series favorites, as they return 14 players from the 2018 season and add eight freshman and a graduate transfer. Torina is looking to blend that experience with the wide-eyed freshman to create an dynamic that works on the field.
“We’re just going into [the fall] with a new mindset,” junior pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch said. “It’s a new season and a new team. We have a lot of new girls and we’ve been working really hard getting to know each other on and off the field. I’m excited for the fall and the upcoming spring.”
Pitching staff
After losing All-American pitchers Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper to graduation, LSU is reloading in the circle. 
“It’s been different after being under two All-Americans for the past two years,” Gorsuch said. “I’m super excited to step into that role, and I think we have a lot of potential on the pitching staff.” 
That new pitching staff begins with Gorsuch, who is the veteran of the pitching staff. Sophomore pitcher Shelbi Sunseri was limited last season because of an injury, but Torina expects her to step up and be a leader on LSU’s young staff. 
“I want to do something like Allie and Carley did,” Gorsuch said. “I think they’re both very inspiring, motivating people and I want to do something like they did. I’m hoping to make a name for myself.”
Freshmen pitchers Ali Kilponen and Shelby Wickersham are looking to step into important roles in an already solid pitching staff. Both were ranked in the top 100 on FloSoftball’s Hot 100 list, with Wickersham at No. 9 and Kilponen at No. 69. 
Both Gorsuch and Torina acknowledged how hard working the freshman are and their eagerness to get on the field. 
“I think we’ll adjust pretty well,” Gorsuch said. “I think that we, as a pitching staff, have to do our job in the circle for our teammates to trust us and have our back. It’s going to take some time because we are a new staff, but I’m excited about it.”
Torina believes that Gorsuch and the staff behind her will grow into their roles on the team just like Hoover and Walljasper had to as young players. 
Freshmen and transfer look to contribute 
As always, LSU comes into the season with a loaded recruiting class. Despite losing top pitching along with veteran center fielder Emily Griggs, the Tigers will continue to reload like they have always done. 
Leading the class is University of Missouri graduate transfer Amanda Sanchez, who can be used anywhere in the infield. Sanchez brings additional SEC experience to a team already loaded with it. After going on official visits to both Florida and Oregon, in addition to LSU, she fell in love with the team and the university. 
“She’s just been around the SEC and the game for a long time,” Torina said. 
Sanchez was one of Mizzou’s most dangerous power hitters during her senior season, with .374 batting average and 12 home runs. She was brings a big boost in the field after being named to the SEC All-Defensive team in 2018. 
“I think that I have a pretty good bat,” Sanchez said. “With the help of the coaching staff, I hope that I can help in any way that I can. I don’t really know exactly where I’m going to be playing or where in the lineup I’ll be, but whatever it takes to help the team, I hope to do that.”
The Tigers also have six other freshman that can be used all over the field in a variety of ways. 
Even with the influx of new players, Torina still looks to seven seniors and other upperclassmen to contribute in increased leadership roles. 
“As a group, we collaborate really well,” senior catcher Michaela Schlattman said. “There’s one group that’s more vocal and can lead that way, but there’s also the group that leads by example in all aspects, whether that be softball, school or life, the freshman and underclassmen know that they can look to us as a whole and I think that’s key. I also think it’s really important.There’s so much perspective and knowledge in our class and we want to bring that and hope that the underclassmen can take that in years to come.”
Fall scrimmage updates
At the end of fall camp, LSU will play a series of scrimmages to evaluate the team’s development over the course of the fall. While Torina said she likes to use the fall more to teach than play, she’ll use the games to get all players some quality experience. 
“We’re just trying to go through the process with our kids,” Torina said. “We’re just teaching, doing fundamental and mechanical stuff. I would be fine not playing those game. We’re trying to teach, we’re not looking for a result from them. I think its cool for them. It keeps it interesting, getting to suit up and put the jersey on for the first time. They don’t get bored when we play the games.”
Here is the full schedule:

• Oct. 19 – Texas in Houston, Texas (Scrapyard) 7 p.m.
• Oct. 20 – Baylor in Houston, Texas (Scrapyard) 6 p.m.
• Oct. 24 – LSU-Eunice in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 6 p.m.
• Oct. 27 – Northwestern St. in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 3:30 p.m.
• Oct. 27 – Pensacola in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 6 p.m.
• Oct. 30 – McNeese St. in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 5:30 p.m.
• Nov. 9 – Chipola CC in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 6 p.m.
• Nov. 10 – Belhaven in Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Park) 6 p.m.