Beth Torina and staff are set to open the season at home as they host the LSU invitational .They will play five games over four days at Tiger Park on the opening weekend of the 2024 season, including four games in the 2024 LSU Invitational Feb. 9-11.
Opening Night
Nicholls at 6 p.m. CST on Thursday, Feb. 8,
Friday Feb 9, will be the first day of the LSU Invitational Day One
LSU will take on Memphis at 6 p.m. CST
Day Two
LSU vs. Pittsburgh at 1:30 p.m. CST
LSU vs Memphis at 4 p.m. CST
Day Three
The Tigers will conclude the tournament against Pittsburgh with a game at noon CST on Sunday, Feb. 11.
The Tigers are ranked No. 14 by USA Today and N0. 15 by ESPN. In the SEC Coaches poll the lady tigers are picked to finish third in the SEC. There are 18 returning players from last years rosters that consist of five NFCA South All-Region First Team selections and six All-SEC selections. The Fighting Tigers’ 2024 roster will welcome eight newcomers, highlighted by two transfers in Kelley Lynch from Washington – a 2023 NFCA Pacific All-Region selection – and Tatum Clopton from Oklahoma State. The other six newcomers come from a loaded recruiting class that was one of the top classes nationwide.
Incoming Class
Savanna Bedell (Columbus, Ga.) T-No. 14 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
Sierra Daniel (Chandler, Ariz.) T-No. 7 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
Tori Edwards (Argyle, Texas) T-No. 21 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
Jadyn Laneaux (Marietta, Ga.) No. 39 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
Madyson Manning (Monroe, La.)T-No. 29 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
Maddie McKee (Montgomery, Texas) T-No. 18 recruit by Extra Inning Softball.
The Tigers Boast Four Pre-Season SEC Selections
Sydney Berzon - Pitcher
All-American last season after posting a 14-8 record in the circle
1.91 ERA with 127 strikeouts and held opposing batters to a .209 average.
11 complete games and had four shutouts in her freshman campaign.
became the program’s first NFCA All-American freshman pitcher since 2015 (Carley Hoover).
She was also a 2023 All-SEC Second Team honoree.
Ciara Briggs - Outfielder
First back-to-back Gold Glove winner in softball history – collegiate or professional (2022, 2023)-
ZERO errors in 176 chances over the last two seasons.
In 2023, Briggs had 83 putouts and four assists,
.347 batting average, 68 hits, 24 RBI, 46 runs, two home runs (both grand slams) and 11 stolen bases.
Briggs graced the 2023 NFCA South All-Region First Team,
All-SEC Second Team,
SEC All-Defensive Team. In LSU history.
Briggs will enter the 2024 season ranked No. 7 in the program’s record book with a career .356 batting average and .990 fielding percentage.
Danieca Coffey - Infield
2023 NFCA South All-Region First Team
led the Tigers with a .392 batting average and 74 hits.
Team-best .482 on-base percentage and 12 stolen bases.
Coffey drove in 24 runs, scored 44 of her own, and had 11 extra-base hitsincluding two home runs last season.
Coffey enters the 2024 season ranked No. 6 all-time in program history with a .430 career on-base percentage and No. 9 all-time with a .354 career batting average.
Taylor Pleasants- Infield,
2021 NFCA All-American
NFCA South All-Region First Team for the second consecutive year
Three-time All-SEC selection
SEC All-Defensive Team in 2023.
Pleasants batted .346 and led the team with a .562 slugging percentage with 56 hits and eight home runs.
Team-high 53 RBIs.
Defensively, she paced the team with 118 assists, had 61 putouts, and was part of turning 15 double plays.
Pleasants will enter the 2024 season ranked No. 5 in the LSU record book with 37 career home runs and a .597 career slugging percentage, No. 6 with 171 career RBIs, and No. 7 with 389 career assists.
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