LSU’s youthful softball team has accomplished plenty in starting the season 14-0. One thing it hasn’t done is make a road trip and that starts this week with a doozy.
The No. 5 Tigers play No. 4 UCLA in its opening game of the Judi Garman Classic at 2 p.m. Thursday at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, California. LSU will play Fullerton (11-5) at 7 p.m. the same day followed by Friday games against Utah (4-12) at 11:30 a.m. and Notre Dame (8-7) before wrapping it up on Saturday against Weber State (4-11) at 1 p.m.
Playing with an offensive lineup more dependent on speed and aggressive base running, the Tigers have proven capable of scoring runs, getting 43 in four games last weekend.
Senior third baseman Danieca Coffey, who shared SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors with Texas A&M’s Mya Perez, has triggered the offensive with productive hitting and being ever present on the bases. Coffey went 7 for 10 last week to raise her batting average to .579 and on base percentage to .685, both team bests. She also leads in hits (22) and runs scored (18) and tied for the lead in walks (15).
Her importance as a four-year senior starter will extend to helping shepherd the team through its first road trip.
“The biggest thing is that it’s a business trip, that’s what coach always says,” Coffey said. “Yeah, we can also have a good time but understand you’re there to do a job and be grateful LSU is giving us a private fly, a place to stay and food. We have to make sure we have a balanced deal.”
Several Tigers will play away from Tiger Park for the first time, including first baseman Tori Edwards, the team leader in homers (4) and RBI (23).
“It’s exciting. It’s my first game not in Tiger Park. I’m excited to travel, see a different environment and test our strengths and energies on the road. I have no doubt we’ll bring the same energy from Tiger Park to California. At the end of the day, we’re not focused on whether there’s a number in front of the other team or our team.”
LSU moved up one spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and received one first place vote while coming in behind Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and UCLA.
The Bruins (14-2) have lost only to Virginia and No. 8 Duke while taking victories over Kentucky, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 22 Alabama, Missouri and No. 11 Arkansas.
UCLA is led at the plate by first baseman Jordan Woolery with a .435 batting average, six homers and 22 runs batted in. Second baseman Savannah Pola is batting .412. The top pitcher is left-hander Kaitlyn Terry with an 8-1 record, 0.99 earned run average and two shutouts.
“It’s exciting to have an opportunity against a team like that, a program like that,” Tigers coach Beth Torina said. “They are a lot like us with a lot of new faces and names. It’s a different style of play but similarly match-up our experience level on Thursday morning. More of a slugger team, a power offense.”
