The last time No. 4 LSU (33-9, 12-6) lost a Southeastern Conference series, it followed with a sweep of then-No. 3 Arkansas.
The Tigers would like to continue that trend when they host Georgia (24-18, 8-10) for a three-game weekend series at Alex Box Stadium. Following a one-run loss in the series finale against No. 3 Kentucky on Sunday, junior right fielder Raph Rhymes didn’t discount the significance of bouncing back.
“Every game in the SEC is important,” Rhymes said. “Rebounding from that tough weekend last weekend against Kentucky, we’ll come out with a good mindset ready to compete.”
For Rhymes, the series provides another opportunity to boost his nation-leading batting average back to .500. After going 1-for-3 Wednesday against Southeastern, Rhymes is now hitting .497, though he said the Bulldog pitchers will pose a stiff obstacle.
“I heard they’re a good staff,” Rhymes said. “They’re a good team. They’re playing some good baseball right now. I heard they gave Florida some trouble, and Florida’s a great team. We have to come ready to play.”
Though the Bulldogs rank near the bottom of the SEC Eastern Division, Georgia is coming off a close series loss against No. 5 Florida. The Bulldogs suffered a one-run loss in the series opener that lasted 16 innings behind starting pitcher Alex Wood, who allowed just two runs in eight innings of work.
Wood ranks No. 7 in the SEC with a 2.57 ERA and hasn’t lost a decision in conference play this year. His lone loss came March 9 in a 2-0 defeat against then-No. 16 UCLA.
“He’s pitched some tremendous games in his career,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We had a little good fortune last year, but we know what he’s capable of.”
LSU dropped two of three games against Georgia last season but did take the series’ first game, benefiting from three unearned runs against Wood. The Tigers lost a doubleheader the following Sunday with both games shortened to seven innings because of inclement weather the previous day.
Sophomore pitcher Kevin Gausman will attempt to redeem himself after one of the worst outings in his career last season against Georgia. In the first game of the Sunday doubleheader, Gausman surrendered seven runs before being pulled after facing one batter in the third inning.
“That was probably the first time I got hit really hard in the SEC,” Gausman said. “It was an eye-opening experience. I’m definitely going to take that into the start and remember it.”
Mainieri is quick to point out how much Gausman has developed since the debacle last season in Athens, Ga. The sophomore pitcher has since added a full arsenal of off-speed and breaking pitches that should present a much more challenging experience for the Bulldog batters.
“Kevin Gausman is not even a shell of what he was last year when he pitched against Georgia,” Mainieri said. “He’s so much better now. He’s a much more complete pitcher with a full repertoire of pitches.”
Though most players have some form of redemption on their minds, Mainieri said the idea hadn’t even dawned on him.
“I’d rather just not lose any SEC series instead of worrying about bouncing back from one,” Mainieri said. “But our confidence is high, and our kids feel that they can win.”
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]