A new season of LSU softball began on Thursday when head coach Beth Torina and her 2026 squad took on NC State to open the Tiger Classic tournament. Early scoring by the Bayou Bengals led to an 11-3 win over the Wolfpack.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
It didn’t take long for LSU to jump out to an early lead. In the lower half of the first inning, the Tigers took a two-run lead, and it started when Jalia Lassiter reached first base on an infield single that landed near the third base line. She then scored when Sierra Daniel doubled up the middle for the first Tiger run of the season. After Maci Bergeron grounded out to first, Tori Edwards’ sacrifice grounder allowed Daniel to get home for the second run of the evening.
The Bayou Bengals added to their lead at the bottom of the second. With one out, Alix Franklin hit a triple into left-center field with the ball stopping in its tracks at the wall. Franklin was tagged out on a fielder’s choice hit by Avery Hodge, leaving one out for LSU before the end of the inning.
Those two outs were no issue for the Tigers as Lassiter recorded an RBI single and advanced to second on a throw after. Daniel followed that up with her second double of the game. Bergeron was mere inches from a home run, but was still credited with the RBI double off the wall and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Wolfpack starting pitcher, Charli Orsini. Orsini’s night came to an end after walking Edwards and was replaced by Rylee Wyman. Wolf Pack catcher Hannah Church misfired on a throw to second and allowed Bergeron to put the Tigers ahead 6-0 on the throwing error.
NC State’s batting lineup couldn’t record a hit or get on base through the first two innings, courtesy of LSU starting pitcher Jayden Heavener. The Florida native struck out five of the first six batters she faced.
Heavener didn’t give up a hit in the third either, but the Wolfpack scratched its first run at the top of the frame. After Lily Livingston struck out, Taryn Massey was walked, and a wild pitch hit Carly Short. Both advanced to scoring position off another wild pitch before leadoff hitter Maia Townsend was retired. A third wild pitch of the inning from Heavener resulted in the first Wolfpack run.
LSU widened the gap in the third inning as Edwards got on base due to an error by NC State second baseman Kendall Simmers, and she advanced on a wild pitch. Char Lorenz was walked, and both runners scored on a Fraklin triple into right-center field. After Hodge struck out, Lassiter reached on a pop fly fielding error by Sarah Johnson in right field. That error led to the Tigers taking a 9-1 lead. Kadie Becker then replaced Wyman on the mound.
Church led off the fourth inning with a solo home run against a 3-1 pitch for the Wolfpack’s second run of the game. That moon ball was also the team’s first hit allowed by Heavener. The Tigers responded with another two runs at the bottom of the inning. Edwards walked with Destiny Harris, who was pinch-running for her. Hutchins singled, and an Edwards flyout advanced Harris to third before going home on a Lorenz single. With two outs, Hodge walked to load the bases, and Lassiter walked to put another run on the board. Becker was also taken off the mound for Kendall Weik.
NC State added another run in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a run rule. Talley’s pop fly in the infield was the final out of the game as LSU started the season with an 11-3 win.
BIG NUMBER: 2
Alix Franklin took extra base hits to the next level in the season opener, hitting a pair of triples in Thursday’s win. As a team, LSU had five extra-base hits against NC State’s pitching staff.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jayden Heavener
The Tiger ace had a strong start to the 2026 season. The sophomore left-handed pitcher was on the mound for all five innings and struck out 10 Wolfpack batters and surrendered just three runs on two hits as LSU earned the run rule victory.
UP NEXT: The LSU softball team will continue with its second game of the Tiger Classic tomorrow, February 5th. The Tigers will take on the Nevada Wolf Pack at 3:00 PM at Tiger Park.