LSU softball’s biggest in-state rival was no match for the Tigers’ offense on Tuesday in a 14-0 win over University of Louisiana-Lafayette in five innings.
ULL was stunned quickly as LSU put up six runs in the first inning, and freshman pitcher Jayden Heavener kept the Cajuns off the bases efficiently. The Tigers’ bats were so hot ULL had to change pitchers in the first inning.
The momentum was all LSU from the beginning of the game. Danieca Coffey started out the game with a walk, and the tone was set for the Tigers.
Coffey stayed hot going 2-2 with two walks. She extended her on-base streak to 35 games with her first inning walk, and also hit a two-run ground rule double in the first inning.
In the second inning, LSU got into run-rule territory and got started with a McKenzie Redoutey single.
Redshirt junior Sydney Peterson got a chance to show her abilities, getting a start as the designated player for this game. She is the seventh different player to get a chance in LSU’s DP spot this season.
After the Tigers eight-run lead in two quick innings, the Cajuns pulled it together a bit in the third inning, not allowing any runs, but Heavener responded by doing everything a coach wants to see.
She kept the ball in the strike zone and kept the walks to a minimum, tallying six strikeouts on four walks. It took the hot ULL offense five innings to get a crack at her, and the hit was an infield single to shortstop Avery Hodge.
The Tigers have finally gotten everything together and become one cohesive team since their first loss versus Cal State Fullerton. Head coach Beth Torina has put an emphasis on the team playing their game, and they have shown their game ever since the loss to Fullerton.
The mindset of these young Tigers is championship through and through, the team has said. Coffey said the competitiveness can be attributed to hitting coach Bryce Neal, who replaced the departing Howard Dobson in the offseason.
Freshman Tori Edwards also spoke on the mindset LSU has in the box this season. She said they’re focusing on being tough, providing for the team and passing the bat.
“Bryce has kind of incorporated [grittiness] too, but also just his mentality with everything has been defining our offense,” Edwards said. “We wanted to be seen as hard outs, so just combining the technical side, and also the greediness.”
Edwards knows a thing or two about success with hitting this season. She’s batting .431 with nine home runs. One of those home runs was versus ULL on Tuesday.
With SEC play starting on Friday, winning against a tough team will be a big confidence boost. In the Spring Break Showdown, ULL topped No. 23 Alabama 4-3. LSU beating a team that competed with one of the top teams in the SEC shows promising signs for the 2025 season.
The Tigers will try to continue the momentum they’ve built over the last several games as they host University of Kentucky on Friday March 14 for the first game of three.
