2021 Softball Team Preview- LSU

LSU has had a very successful softball program having won both regular season SEC championships and SEC tournament championships. The team has also appeared in six Women's College World Series and nineteen NCAA tournaments finishing third at the Women's College World series four times (2001, 2004, 2015, 2016). But they've never been able to get the grand prize of a D1 National Softball Championship. Could this be the year that LSU brings home their first National Championship? Although its a long season and you never know what could happen in these times of Covid19, I'm picking LSU to do it this year and be the 2021 D1 Champions.

Head coach Beth Torina is entering her 10th season as LSU's head softball coach. She will be in charge of keeping this powerhoue team on track. The team is returning 21 players from last year's team, including their entire starting lineup from last season that went 21-3 and was ranked 2nd in hitting amongst SEC teams with a .344 team batting average and 1st in SEC pitching with a 0.95 team ERA.

Georgia Clark, who led the Tigers last year in hitting with a .425 batting average is back along with All-SEC performer Aliyah Andrews (.408 batting average) and All-American Shelbi Sunseri.

LSU also returns a pitching staff that would make any head coach happy. It includes senior Maribeth Gorsuch and sophomore Shelby Wickersham along with sophomore Ali Kilponen and junior Shelbi Sunseri who coach Torina says, “might be the most improved pitchers on the entire staff.”

Good hitting, pitching, speed on the bases and a seasoned head coach that knows how to win. Put that all together and you have have the winning combination that LSU has put together for their 2021 season.