Seven of the LSU softball team’s last 11 games have been against ranked opponents.
The Tigers got a small break last weekend with a series against unranked Ole Miss (17-28, 4-18 Southeastern Conference).
While LSU won the series, it couldn’t manage to sweep the Rebels, who won Sunday, 1-0- Ole Miss’ third road win all season.
With the minefield of top-25 teams that is the SEC, LSU will play another ranked opponent as they go to Gainesville, Fla., to play a doubleheader against No. 3 Florida (40-5, 18-2 SEC) tonight.
LSU softball coach Beth Torina spent her college career playing for Florida, but this won’t be her first trip back to Gainesville.
When Torina coached at Florida International University, she faced the Gators four times, accumulating a 1-3 record. Her lone win came in 2010, when the Panthers went to Gainesville and upended then-No. 4 Florida, 8-3.
The Gators have accumulated a 21-1 record at home this season.
“Florida is always a great opponent,” said LSU junior pitcher Rachele Fico. “We really just need to give it our all and bring our ‘A’ game.”
Statistically, Florida’s offense is the polar opposite of LSU’s.
The Gators are second in the SEC with a .322 team batting average, while the Tigers sit in the conference cellar with a .242 team batting average.
Florida is also just behind Alabama in the SEC in runs scored, at 281- another category in which the Tigers occupy the last spot in the conference with 181 runs scored.
“[Florida] brings a good speed game and a ton of offense,” Torina said.
Luckily for LSU, the Tigers’ pitching has been their strength.
LSU has the second-best ERA in the SEC, at 1.71.
“Our pitching staff will be ready for them,” Torina said.
Senior pitcher Brittany Mack will need to break her cold streak if she wants to handle Florida’s talented offense.
Mack is 13-8 with a 2.54 ERA this season, the best ERA in her LSU career.
Mack’s eight losses are the seventh-most by any SEC pitcher this season.
Fico, on the other hand, has made major strides since last season, amassing an SEC-best .99 ERA. Last season, Fico finished with a 14-10 record and a 2.40 ERA.
Torina said Florida’s pitchers are dangerous, too.
“They have a really solid pitcher on the mound in [sophomore] Hannah Rogers,” Torina said. “We have to prepare for her with the things that she throws.”
Rogers, who is 23-3 on the season, has the second-best ERA in the SEC.
Rogers has an opposing batting average of .177, which is good for third in the conference.
 
—-
Contact Albert Burford at [email protected].