Top 3 LSU Softball Transfer of All Time

With the evolution of the transfer portal and the impact of NIL on college sports, I decided to explore the Top 3 LSU Softball transfers of all time. It's important to remember that the transfer market was quite different in the past. Nevertheless, Beth Torina and Yvette Girouard managed to recruit some true game-changers.

Regarding the criteria, active transfers are excluded because their stories are still developing. I chose to assess them with 75% weight on their performance and 25% on the team's progress, along with the transfer's role in that success. There were many outstanding options, like Kelley Lynch and Karli Petty, among others. However, I believe the top 3 are unquestionably clear.

1️⃣ Kristin Schmidt (Pitcher, 2002–2004) — Transfer from Notre Dame

Production: Schmidt’s impact in just two seasons at LSU is unmatched. She compiled 89 career wins, 907 strikeouts, and 37 shutouts, cementing herself among LSU’s statistical leaders despite her short tenure. Her 38 wins in 2004 remain an LSU single-season record, and she added an SEC Pitcher of the Year award to her résumé. Schmidt was known for her pinpoint control, her ability to pitch deep into games, and her dominance over the SEC’s toughest lineups.

Team Success: In 2004, she almost single-handedly pitched LSU into the Women’s College World Series, earning Most Outstanding Player honors — a rare feat for a player whose team did not reach the finals. She pitched nearly every inning for LSU during that postseason run.

Legacy: Schmidt’s name remains synonymous with postseason heroics in LSU softball history. Her combination of elite numbers, durability, and clutch performances makes her the gold standard for transfer impact.

2️⃣ Carly Hoover (Pitcher, 2015–2018) — Transfer from Stanford

Production: Hoover arrived in Baton Rouge after a medical redshirt season at Stanford, and quickly became one of the most reliable and intimidating pitchers in the SEC. Over four seasons, she went 71–30 with a 1.74 ERA and 754 strikeouts in 684 innings. She threw 66 complete games and recorded 21 shutouts, often taking the ball in the biggest games against elite competition. Hoover earned All-American honors, multiple All-SEC selections, and finished her career holding the most postseason wins in LSU history.

Team Success: Hoover anchored LSU’s pitching staff during the program’s most sustained period of national success, leading the Tigers to three straight WCWS appearances (2015, 2016, 2017).

Coach’s Perspective (Beth Torina): “She came to us after a medical redshirt year at Stanford,” Torina recalled. “She’d been recruited by the previous staff — Coach Girouard and Kristen Hobbs — and LSU was her second choice out of high school. She was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, so I think she was probably recruited by the whole country. When it came time to transfer, she reached out to us and said, ‘I want to come see you guys. LSU was something I really loved. It really stood out.’ The rest is history. She owns the most postseason wins in school history and took us to three College World Series appearances. Pretty cool, the things she did while she was here.”

Legacy: Hoover’s combination of durability, high strikeout totals, and her role in LSU’s deepest sustained postseason run make her one of the most important transfers in program history. Her tenure was defined by consistency and big-game performances.

3️⃣ Kirsten Shortridge (Utility/Pitcher, 2009–2010) — Transfer from Baylor

Production: One of the most dynamic athletes to ever wear purple and gold, Shortridge is LSU’s career batting average leader (.417) and ranks top 3 in on-base percentage (.437). She sits 7th all-time in stolen bases (71) despite only playing two seasons. In 2010, she led the NCAA in batting average (.480) and was named an NFCA First-Team All-American. She also brought value as a pitcher, giving LSU flexibility in roster construction.

Team Success: While LSU did not make a WCWS during her two-year run, Shortridge helped the Tigers to NCAA Regional and Super Regional appearances and was a constant threat at the top of the lineup.

Legacy: Shortridge's exceptional speed, batting skills, and versatility made her one of the most formidable offensive players in LSU history. Despite not appearing in a WCWS, her achievements place her among the program's all-time greats. "Kirsten will be remembered as one of the finest players to wear an LSU uniform," said head coach Yvette Girouard.

Although I believe Schmidt is undoubtedly the top choice, I can't count how often I wavered between Shortridge and Hoover for the No. 2 spot, to the point of considering labeling them as 2a and 2b.

🏆 Final Rankings (75% Production / 25% Team Success)

1️⃣ Kristin Schmidt – 5.00

2️⃣ Carly Hoover – 4.65

3️⃣ Kirsten Shortridge – 4.50

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