The No. 21 LSU softball team (12-5) will put their seven-game win streak on the line when they participate in the LSU Invitational / UL-Lafayette Crossover on Thursday through Sunday.
UL-Lafayette (10-2), Troy (11-2), Louisiana Tech (10-6), and Central Connecticut State (0-9) will have games played at Tiger Park as well as Lamson Park in Lafayette.
LSU follows its opener in Lafayette on Friday with a doubleheader versus Troy on Friday at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on SECN+ before playing the Ragin’ Cajuns again at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Tiger Park on SECN+ followed by Sunday’s doubleheader with Louisiana Tech on SEC Network at noon and Central Connecticut State at 2:30 on SECN+.
LSU went 6-0 last weekend at the Purple & Gold Challenge with three of those wins coming by the shutout variety. The Tigers had their most productive weekend at the plate, outhitting their opponents 59-21 and outscored them 55-10.
Third baseman Danieca Coffey paces LSU with a .439 batting average, is currently on a 15-game reached base streak. Designated player/pitcher Shelbi Sunseri and first baseman Georgia Clark account for 12 of the team’s 17 home runs with Sunseri leading the way with seven (No. 2 in the SEC). Clark has a team-high 18 RBI which is ranked fourth in the SEC.
Junior pitcher Ali Kilponen is 7-1 in the circle this season with six complete games and three shutouts. She has a 0.73 ERA and ranks No. 7 in the conference with 45 strikeouts, including a league-best 15 strikeouts looking. Sunseri is 3-1 this season on the rubber with a 2.27 ERA and has 30 strikeouts in 37.0 innings pitched.
THE LINEUP
LSU is 20-12 all-time against UL-Lafayette. The Tigers and Ragin’ Cajuns met five times last season with LSU winning four of them, including two in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. … The Tigers are 9-0 against Troy and the Trojans 11-0 in five innings on March 13, 2019 in their last meeting. … LSU is 20-0 against Louisiana Tech and 2-0 against Central Connecticut State.
ON DECK
LSU will open SEC play on March 11-13 at Tiger Park as they take on SEC favorite Alabama.
Glad to see this renewed rivalry with LSU/UL Softball. Two excellent teams, both having a great fan base. Good for the game in Louisiana. Kudos to the Coaches & Athletic Departments.