LSU set to face DePaul, Cal State Northridge
The LSU softball team hits the road for the first time this season at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. The Tigers had their Wednesday game against Florida State rescheduled to April 17 because of rain.
LSU (2-2) faces DePaul at 11 a.m. Saturday at 11 a.m. CST and Cal State Northridge at 1:15 p.m. Saturday followed by Sunday tilts against No. 3 California at 1:15 p.m. Sunday and Utah State at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
“We definitely have quality opponents this week,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “We do not have an off weekend with our schedule. It is going to be tough the whole way. It is definitely going to prepare us for the SEC, and we have to look at the positives of it. I know that these challenges are going to make us stronger in the end.”
LSU started the Torina era with a 2-2 record at the Tiger Classic. In the circle, Rachele Fico secured both wins and tossed 13 shutout innings en route to Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team and Louisiana Pitcher of the Week honors. Opponents tallied three hits and a .073 batting average versus Fico.
“Rachele was just dominating all weekend, and she controlled everyone we faced,” Torina said.
“I thought she had pretty good location. She is very confident, and she is such a great competitor. You can see it on her face every time she is out there.”
Offensively, Juliana Santos picked up a team-high four RBIs to fuel the Tigers. After playing only three games in 2011 due to injury, Ashley Applegate returned to the starting lineup and hit safely in three of four games over the weekend.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 6, NORTHWESTERN 4: In Lafayette, Christi Orgeron and Paige Cormier each hit their fifth home runs of the season as the Cajuns remained unbeaten.
ULL (5-0) trailed Northwestern 1-0 entering the third inning before Orgeron connected on a three-run homer to highlight a five-run third. One batter later, Cormier hit a two-run shot.
Ashley Brignac (2-0) got the win, going the distance and giving up four earned runs on eight hits. She struck out seven.
Emily Allard went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Northwestern (2-4).
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 11, UTEP 1, FIVE INNINGS: In Lafayette, Christi Orgeron homered and drove in five runs to lead the Cajuns’ 10 hit attack.
ULL (4-0) scored seven in the second inning and three in the third. The key blow in the second was Orgeron’s grand slam.
Jordan Wallace (2-0) got the win, going thre innings and allowing one earned run on three hits. She struck out five.
UTEP’s only run came in the top of the fifth. The Miners (4-3) managed four hits.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, NICHOLLS STATE 7 (10 INNINGS): In Troy, Ala., down to its last out, Nicholls State forced extra innings in two occasions in its opener at the Quality Inn Classic against Eastern Kentucky, but could never take the lead as EKU outlasted Nicholls in 10 innings at Troy Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
Nicholls (1-5) will continue tournament play Saturday with against Ball State at 8:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. matchup with East Tennessee State.
Nicholls’ Katie Moulder tossed her second complete game of the season, giving up four earned runs on seven hits. Moulder struck out seven for the second straight outing, matching her career best.
SOUTH ALABAMA 8, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 1: In Jacksonville, Ala., Haley Hopkins hit a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for USA’s win in the Jacksonville State Invitational.
South Alabama (2-3) added one in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and three in the sixth.
SLU (1-5) got on the board in the fourth inning on a Meghan Gomez home run.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 11, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 3 (5 INNINGS): In Jacksonville, Ala., SIU broke a scoreless tie with Allie VadeBonceur’s three-run homer in the third and added eight in the fourth for the mercy rule win.
Katie Bertelsen (2-1) held SLU hitless until the top of the fourth inning before Meghan Gomez homered.
SLU (1-6) added two more in the fifth on RBIs by Kayla Elswick and Kelsey Nichols.