LSU Tigers softball | |
---|---|
University | Louisiana State University |
Conference |
SEC Western Division |
Location | Baton Rouge, LA |
Head coach | Beth Torina (5th year) |
Home stadium | Tiger Park (Capacity: 1,289 (1,200 additional seats on the Tiger Park Terrace) |
Nickname | Tigers |
Colors | Purple and Gold |
NCAA WCWS appearances | |
2001, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007 | |
Conference champions | |
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
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 regular season championships, five SEC tournament championships and has been to the Women's College World Series six times. The team is currently coached by Beth Torina.
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).