After one of the worst hitting slumps in a three-game set in LSU softball history, the team took a step in the right direction over the weekend.
The No. 11 Tigers won two of three contests against Mississippi State in a comeback effort to take the Southeastern Conference series. Saturday and Sunday’s wins were much needed in the conference, as the team dropped three of its last four series in league play.
“This was a big series for us to move this team forward and continue to build our confidence,” said LSU head coach Beth Torina. “We’ve been trying to get better all season long, and I like how we improved this weekend.”
Torina’s squad dropped the first game in Starkville, Mississippi, to extend its SEC-losing streak to five-straight. But the Tigers won in a 12-inning thriller Saturday, which run-ruled the Bulldogs on Sunday to end the drought.
In its previous weekend matchup against Kentucky, LSU was 1-for-40 from the plate with runners on base and left 25 on base throughout the three-game series.
While the Tigers still stranded 34 on the bases against Mississippi State, their bats finally stepped up in the final two matchups.
LSU’s batters combined for 26 hits in the final two games in Starkville. The team had a mere 27 hits in its previous six SEC matchups combined.
The offense finally looked like it did prior to the start of conference play — run-ruling opponents and securing double digit hit totals nearly each week.
“I loved seeing the Fighting Tigers tonight, seeing the offense show up and continue to battle through some tough situations,” Torina said after the 12-inning 5-2 win. “I’m really hoping this can be our breakout moment where we understand what we’re capable of.”
The team’s pitching staff has been there all season, but the conference rotation may now add a new member.
Freshman Sydney Smith earned her first career SEC win in Sunday’s game and relieved sophomores Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper, the top-two gunslingers in LSU’s bullpen.
“It was a big day for [Smith], getting her first SEC win,” Torina said. “We saw her have a lot of success Friday night and we knew this day was coming for her.”
Each of the team’s three series losses have come in series when Torina started just Hoover and Walljasper. When the fifth-year coach started all three pitchers, LSU won its last two series.
The Tigers defeated then-No. 9 Georgia when all three pitchers started, but were swept by Kentucky after Torina went back to the two-hurler system.