It’s going to be a changing of the guard for LSU softball entering the 2024 season.
While star pitcher [autotag]Sydney Berzon[/autotag] returns, many of the other big names — [autotag]Taylor Pleasants[/autotag], [autotag]Ciara Briggs[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Newland[/autotag], just to name a few — do not. Coach [autotag]Beth Torina[/autotag] turned to the transfer portal to try to find some experience, and the Tigers did just that.
Earlier this week, LSU announced the addition of three transfers: infielder [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] (Oklahoma), outfielder [autotag]Jalia Lassiter[/autotag] (Ole Miss) and pitcher [autotag]Ashley Vallejo[/autotag] (McNeese).
Hodge was a member of the Sooners’ last two national title-winning teams, batting .284 this past season with six extra-base hits and nine RBI. Lassiter, meanwhile, was Ole Miss’ leader in hits in 2024 with a .314 average, four home runs and 29 RBI.
Unlike Hodge and Lassiter, who have two remaining years of eligibility, Vallejo is a graduate transfer. In four years at McNeese, she went 45-24 on the mound with a 2.44 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 416.2 career innings.
The Tigers ink three from the portal.
📄 https://t.co/3nRmy8rbWG | #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/2nYrlU3esY
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) July 15, 2024
After leading the Tigers to three consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances and four in her first six seasons, Torina is looking to return to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2017 after a super regional exit this spring.
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