Location Baton Rouge, LA Colors Purple and Gold Conference Southeastern Conference | Nickname Tigers Head coach Beth Torina League Division I (NCAA) | |
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University Louisiana State University Home stadium Tiger Park (Capacity: 1,289 (1,200 additional seats on the Tiger Park Terrace) | ||
The LSU Tigers softball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and plays home games in Tiger Park. LSU has won five SEC championships and has been to the Women's College World Series five times. The team is currently coached by Beth Torina.
Contents
- History
- National Conference Awards
- Roster
- Tiger Park
- Tiger Park 1997
- LSU Strength and Conditioning facility
- References
History
LSU softball had its beginnings in 1979 with a team coached by Carol Smith. However, after only three seasons, LSU decided to disband its softball program. In 1997 the Southeastern Conference decided to begin sponsoring softball, partly to help member institutions to comply with Title IX. LSU softball was reborn and quickly became one of the best teams not only in the conference, but in the nation. Since 1997, LSU has won 9 Western Division titles, 5 regular season SEC championships and 5 SEC tournament championships which is more than any other school in the conference. LSU has also appeared in 5 Women's College World Series and 17 NCAA tournaments. On June 9, 2011, the University announced long-time Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy as the new skipper of the LSU softball program. However, three days later, Murphy announced that he had changed his mind and would remain at Alabama. Beth Torina, coach at Florida International University (FIU), was hired a short time later and has since led the program to three Women's College World Series appearances in her first five years at the helm.
The program earned its 1,000th victory on May 1, 2016 after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 9-1 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers have posted an impressive 11 seasons of at least 50 wins. The team has finished 3rd at the Women's College World series four times (2001, 2004, 2015, 2016) and 5th one time (2012).
The Tigers home crowds have grown steadily at Tiger Park from 2012-present, during which the Tigers have posted a 138-38 record (.784). At least 1,000 fans have attended every home game during the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. Additionally, since 2012, the program has surpassed 1,500 fans 58 times, 2000+ fans 25 times and 3,000+ fans 3 times.
National & Conference Awards
Roster
As of January 23, 2016.
Tiger Park
Tiger Park opened in 2009 and serves as the home field of the LSU Tigers softball team. The official capacity of the stadium is 1,289 people. The stadium also features an outfield berm, renamed the Tiger Park Terrace in 2016, that can accommodate an additional 1,200 fans.[1]
Tiger Park (1997)
The original Tiger Park was a softball stadium located on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1] It served as the home field of the LSU Tigers softball team from 1997-2008. The official capacity of the stadium was 1,000 people. The stadium was opened prior to the 1997 college softball season and played host to four NCAA Regionals in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2006 and hosted the 2008 SEC Softball Tournament. The 2008 season was the twelfth and final season in the original Tiger Park. LSU closed out the original Tiger Park with a home record of 331-51, including 140-34 in the SEC and 1-1 in the SEC Tournament.
LSU Strength and Conditioning facility
The LSU North Stadium Weight Room strength training and conditioning facility is located in the LSU Strength and Conditioning facility. Built in 1997, it is located adjacent to Tiger Stadium. Measuring 10,000-square feet with a flat surface, it has 28 multi-purpose power stations, 36 assorted selectorized machines and 10 dumbbell stations along with a plyometric specific area, medicine balls, hurdles, plyometric boxes and assorted speed and agility equipment. It also features 4 treadmills, 6 stationary bikes, 4 elliptical cross trainers, 2 stair stepper and stepmill.