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. The team is currently coached by Beth Torina. History LSU has won nine Western Division titles, five regular season SEC championships and five SEC tournament championships. LSU has also appeared in six Women's College World Series and nineteen NCAA tournaments. The team has finished third at the Women's College World series four times (2001, 2004, 2015, 2016) and fifth two times (2012, 2017). Carol Smith era 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. During Smith's tenure, she coached the team to an overall record of 45–28 (.616). Cathy Compton era In 1997 the Southeastern Conference decided to begin sponsoring softball, partly to help member institutions to comply with Title IX. LSU softball was reborn with the hiring of Cathy Compton from Nicholls State University. Compton was head coach from 1997 through the 1998 regular season and finished with an overall record of 100–26 (.797) and 41–12 (.774) in the SEC. Glenn Moore era Glenn Moore became head coach at LSU starting with the 1998 NCAA Tournament. He was head coach at LSU through the 2000 season and compiled a 117–25 (.824) overall record and 53–7 (.883) SEC record. Yvette Girouard era In 2001, LSU hired NFCA Hall of Fame head coach Yvette Girouard from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. During her 11 years as head coach, Girouard had an overall record of 526–171–1 (.754) and SEC record of 220–93–1 (.702). She led the Tigers to two College Women's World Series appearances and made the NCAA Tournament in ten of her eleven years as head coach. She coached LSU to three SEC championships (2001, 2002, 2004) and four SEC tournament championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007). She retired following the 2011 season. During Girouard's tenure as head coach, LSU moved into the new Tiger Park during the spring of 2009 after previously playing at the Original Tiger Park that opened in 1997. Beth Torina era On June 9, 2011, LSU announced long-time Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy was hired to replace Yvette Girouard. However, three days later, Murphy announced that he had changed his mind and would remain at Alabama. LSU then