No. 7 LSU Softball expects Stiffer Competition | LSU

LSU Softball’s Sneak Peek Weekend ended with a 5-0 record and a # 7-national location this week, but the road gets tougher with Purple and Gold Challenge in Tiger Park, which begins at 1 p.m. 16 Friday against Texas-Arlington.

The Tigers play two matches each against No. 17 Virginia Tech and No. 22 Northwestern until Sunday after Friday’s opener.

Coach Beth Torina Muller is still over her lineup, which may not be decided by the end of the month. She is much more confident in her pitching staff who started the season with four shutouts before a 3-2 win over southeastern Louisiana on Sunday.

Torina expects more juggling this weekend. Some stains are set, but she rotated several players including base, left field and designated player.

“There are many things up in the air, especially the DP site,” Torina said. “We didn’t get as many bats for some people as we wanted.

“We didn’t get (infielder) Madyson Manning in. We’re trying to get her some time this weekend. She has had a really good forth season. There are some other names I could throw out, people who need time and opportunities that we still want to see. “

Tori Edwards had a big weekend with three home runs and eight RBIs in two games on Saturday and then ran in the game -winning race against Southeastern on Sunday. She said the attitude this week has been to build the first weekend.

“We are ready, well prepared,” Edwards said, a red-shirt-new joints. “At the end of the day, whether they are ranked or not, we will play LSU softball and have fun.”

The LSU pitches stand out, and fans got a treat from high-ranked beginner left hand Jayden Heavener, who won the National Honours for a six-in-in perfect game with 13 strikes in the season opener. Torina had no problem putting her in the circle to start the campaign in 2025.

Heavener replied with the program’s sixth perfect game and is looking for some personal improvement.

“I chose pieces from the game that I could do better,” she said. “You can always get better; New seats, new form. “

Heavener credited Torina, who specializes in pitching, with polishing her ability.

“She has helped me mechanically, work with my best seats to perfect them, hit the right spots, the best spots,” Heavener said. “When I came here, my mechanics was a little crazy. Just through the fall it has gotten so much better, I feel so much better with my body and everything.

“I am grateful to have her and talk to her. I can tell her exactly how I feel and she knows it. One on one and I’m not unpleasant.”

Torina keeps her pitching strategy close to the West, but the sky is likely to get chances against one or both of the ranked enemies with Ace Sydney Berzon.

VIRGINIA TECH (5-0) OUTCORED five opponents 50-0 last weekend. Emma Lemley threw 11 scoreless innings to go 2-0. Infielder Jordan Lynch (.571) and Outfielder Cori McMilan (.462) lead the violation.

Northwestern (3-2) lost against Missouri and Tennessee, but defeated Duke in his opening weekend. Shortstop Kaylie Avvisato fights .563 for wildcats.

Texas-Arlington (4-1) is coached by Kara Dill, who worked with Torina’s LSU staff in 2015-16. Outfielder Natalia Hill (.429) and Shortstop Talia Maldonado (.385) lead Mavericks at the record.