Batting average, fielding percentage and opposing batting average are three categories in the Southeastern Conference, all with something in common. 

Florida softball is first in each. 

The Gators’ offense creates the most runs, their defense creates the most outs and their pitchers give up the least amount of hits. The top four SEC hitters are Florida’s first four batters. 

“They (Florida) have a lot of weapons, and I think they do a lot of things well,” head coach Beth Torina said prior to the series. 

This matchup was never going to be easy for LSU. The Tigers lost the series 2-1. 

But a top 10 matchup in the SEC is always unpredictable, ripe with exciting, close games. The Tigers held the Gators to tight, low-scoring games, consisting of two pitcher’s duels. 

However, in the last game on Monday, LSU and Florida battled in a slugfest. In the eighth inning, Florida won 6-5 on a dropped third strike, which scored the runner on third. 

In the first game of the series, LSU lost 4-2, and every run was scored in the sixth and seventh inning. In game two, the Tigers won 4-3 off a sacrifice fly in an extra inning. 

LSU is now 9-6 in the SEC and 31-6 overall. 
After sweeping Texas A&M in the previous series, LSU couldn’t continue its momentum. Here are three takeaways from the SEC matchup. 
The Tigers solidified a new lineup after Danieca Coffey’s injury.

After an eventful first half of the season, the Tigers are finally settling down in their respected positions and lineups.

Danieca Coffey’s injury early in the season threw a wrench in the Tigers’ plans.

They expected to have a flawless season led by a sea of seniors, graduate students and experience. With the addition of the Washington transfer Kelley Lynch, LSU had high hopes for its season.

But after Coffey’s torn ACL, everything changed.

The Tigers found themselves in a rut, amidst a four-game losing streak. They went through multiple leadoff hitters trying to fill Coffey’s spot.

After rounds of trial and error, the Tigers finally settled into a new lineup, and its success showed in the Florida series. 

Even in the first game, which ended in a loss, the first four batters finished the game with a hit. In Game 2, five of the nine batters throughout the lineup reached base at least once.

Hitting in the two-hole, Ciara Briggs finished the game 3-for-3, and Maci Bergeron in the eight-hole finished 3-for-4, proving that LSU’s lineup leaves little room for improvement. 

“Our lineup is so deep,” Torina said. “We can score at any point in it.”

The bottom of the order delivered again in game three.

After McKenzie Redoutey doubled down the left field line, nine-hole hitter Maddox McKee drove a ball up the middle to tie the game.

Throughout the series, LSU had seven hits from the bottom three hitters in its lineup, a testament to its depth.

LSU’s outfield is consistent and errorless.

The Tigers have some of the most talented outfielders in the country.

Leading the outfield is Briggs, a two-time Golden Glove winner. To her left is Ali Newland, a fifth-year senior who is known as “a walking highlight reel.” In right field is Redoutey, a junior who has started in almost every game since her freshman year.

These three players have been close to perfection during their time at LSU, and they kept the streak going against Florida. 

Newland exemplified this in the bottom of the third, when a high fly ball was hit to left field. Right when it looked like it was going over the fence, Newland jumped and snagged the ball, robbing Reagan Walsh of a home run.

LSU’s outfield is reliable. It always makes the routine plays, no matter how the rest of the game is going.

LSU’s offense plays a game of chance in the late innings.

All three games came down to LSU needing one or two runs to win. Its offense was able to complete the job in game two, but couldn’t stir up any late runs in the other two games. 

In the seventh inning on Saturday, the Tigers’ offense failed to ignite a comeback from their 4-2 deficit.
But, the next day, LSU’s story was the opposite. 
Bergeron doubled in the eighth inning and advanced Redoutey to third. McKee hit a sacrifice fly to bring Redoutey home. The Tigers won 4-3. 
In the final game, LSU couldn’t produce on offense after giving up a 5-1 lead. 

These pitcher’s duels and offensive battles left the Tigers with a game of chance. They desperately chased crucial runs, and it only sometimes worked out in their favor. 

LSU’s next series lies in Tiger Park against Auburn, starting on Friday, April 12.