The two form the best 1-2 punch in the SEC. Standing 6-foot-1 with an even larger All-American presence, LSU senior softball pitcher Britni Sneed casts quite a shadow. An eclipse may be a more apt description for the greatest pitcher in school history.
But sophomore Kristin Schmidt, herself a second team All-American, has begun to peer through those silhouettes and create her own identity.
"Everybody talks about Britni," LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard said, "but Kristin is turning into the kind of player we expected when we got her. She's an All-American and she's pitched that way. She's the exact opposite of Britni. She works a little slower and doesn't throw as hard. And on your staff, that's exactly what you want."
Sneed and Schmidt have combined to form not only the Southeastern Conference's top pitching duo, but one of the nation's elite with the fourth-best earned run average of 0.93.
They will lead third-ranked and SEC-Western Division leading LSU (42-8, 20-3 SEC) into its next-to-last conference series of the season at last place Ole Miss (25-23, 7-17) in a 5 p.m. doubleheader today in Oxford.
The Tigers, who have won a season-high 12 straight games, conclude their three-game set with the Rebels at 1 p.m. Sunday. LSU holds a half-game lead over No. 15 Alabama (41-13, 20-4) for the overall SEC lead.
Schmidt has more than fulfilled her role behind Sneed, alternating during preconference tournaments before starting the back end of SEC doubleheaders.
"I admire Britni so much," said Schmidt, who like Sneed is a native of Houston. "I look up to her and feel it's an honor to play on the same team as her. I understood my role coming in."
Schmidt transferred to LSU after an ultra-successful freshman season at Notre Dame. A 27-3 record and 0.55 ERA (second lowest in school history) earned her second team All-America honors along with first team All-Big East and the league's freshman of the year laurels.
Despite such eye-grabbing statistics, Schmidt was unhappy with the distance away from Houston to South Bend, Ind. and transferred after helping the Irish to the NCAA Regional championship game.
"LSU's more like home to me and I got along well with the team," Schmidt said. "I wanted to be closer to home so my parents could see me play."
The transition from the Big East to the SEC hasn't been without its share of travails.
"I found that the teams had stronger hitters in the SEC," Schmidt said. "I found I had to go right after them. After a little adjustment I feel comfortable now."
Schmidt, a crafty right-hander with surprising velocity, has been the perfect compliment to the flame-throwing Sneed.
"Her idol is (Atlanta Braves pitcher) Greg Maddux," Girouard said, "and that's how she pitches. She sets people up. Some people can set batters up and others can strike them out. She does both."
Schmidt has put together her most impressive stretch of the season since a, 8-7 loss to Mississippi State on March 19 in 11 innings. She allowed a season-high 12 hits, four earned runs and five walks. "I really didn't like losing after 11 innings," she said.
Schmidt (15-3) has reeled off nine straight wins (and a save), including a key 9-1 win over Alabama since the defeat to State. She's allowed only two earned runs and three walks in her last 54 innings, a span where she has a 0.26 ERA.
"I know one pitcher can't do it all," said Schmidt, who is one of seven pitchers to rank nationally in both strikeouts (per game) and ERA (0.92). "I know when it's my turn I need to do all I can. Every game is important to make it to our goal."
NOTES: All three games in the series will be broadcast by WJNH (107.3-FM). ... LSU has won 10 straight games against Ole Miss and owns a 17-2 advantage in the all-time series. ... Sneed needs three strikeouts to reach sixth place (1,226) on the NCAA's all-time list and 11 for fifth (1,234).
