Familiar perch: LSU softball ranked No. 15 in ESPN/USA Softball’s preseason poll

LSU is one of nine softball teams from the Southeastern Conference represented in the 2024 ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason top 25 poll.

The Tigers of 13^th year coach Beth Torina returns seven position starters, 14 letter winners and welcome a highly recruited freshman class for the start of 2024 season on Feb. 8 against Nicholls at Tiger Park. All-America sophomore pitcher Sydney Berzon highlights the team’s pitching staff.

LSU, which is ranked in the poll for the 18^th consecutive year, received 267 points and finished just behind conference foe No. 14 Alabama. The Tigers went 42-17 last season and reached the championship game of the NCAA Regional against UL-Lafayette.

Two-time NFCA Gold Glove winner Ciara Briggs, a graduate center fielder, is part of the experienced nucleus that returns along with five other NFCA All-South Region selections and six All-SEC first or second-team selections.

Other returning All-South Region choices are graduate shortstop Taylor Pleasants, senior third baseman Danieca Coffey, senior left fielder/catcher Ai Newland and Berzon.

Newland was a first-team All-SEC selection, while Berzon, Coffey, Pleasants, Briggs and junior right fielder McKenzie Redoutey were second-team choices.

LSU is scheduled to play 21 games against teams 10 teams in the preseason polls, including five against top three teams in No. 2 Tennessee, No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Washington.

Rank, School (First-Place Votes), Points, 2023 Record, Final 2023 Ranking

1. Oklahoma (25), 625 pts, 61-1, No. 1

2. Tennessee, 557 pts, 51-10, No. 4

3. Stanford, 546 pts, 47-15, No. 3

4. Florida State, 530 pts, 58-11, No. 2

5. Texas, 496 pts, 44-15-1, No. 11

6. Georgia, 470 pts, 42-15, No. 12

7. Clemson, 468 pts, 49-12, No. 9

8. UCLA, 405 pts, 52-7, No. 15

9. Duke, 401 pts, 48-12, No. 10

10. Washington, 393 pts, 44-15, No. 5

11. Oklahoma State, 346 pts, 47-16, No. 6

12. Arkansas, 306 pts, 40-19, No. 17

13. Oregon, 299 pts, 38-17, No. 14

14. Alabama, 280 pts, 45-22, No. 7

15. LSU, 267 pts, 42-17, No. 20

16. Utah, 265 pts, 42-16, No. 8

17. Nebraska, 252 pts, 36-22, RV

18. Florida, 191 pts, 38-22, No. 21

19. Baylor, 170 pts, 40-18, No. 22

20. Auburn, 160 pts, 43-19, No. 19

21. UL-Lafayette, 133 pts, 50-16, No. 16

22. South Carolina, 129 pts, 40-22, No. 23

23. Virginia Tech, 106 pts, 39-20, No. 24

24. Texas A&M, 91 pts, 35-21, RV

25. Northwestern, 84 pts, 42-13, No. 13

Others receiving votes: San Diego State (48), Kentucky (32), UCF (23), Arizona (10), Missouri (9), Wichita State (9), McNeese (8), Notre Dame (7), Arizona State (6), Liberty (6), Indiana (4), Miami-OH (4), Minnesota (3), Mississippi State (3), Ole Miss (2), Central Arkansas (1), Michigan (1), North Texas (1).