All good things must come to an end. For LSU, that “good thing” is a six-game home stand which saw the Tigers win four games and take their first Southeastern Conference series of the season. LSU (15-8, 2-4) travels to Gainesville, Fla., this weekend to face No. 18 Florida (18-5, 5-1). The Gators are 15-1 at home this season. “It’s a big series,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We’re going to Gainesville to play a very good team, and hopefully we’ll have some success.” The Gators won their series against the Tigers this past season, taking two of three games in Baton Rouge. The Tigers will be without senior third baseman Michael Hollander this weekend. Hollander injured his hamstring in Wednesday night’s game against the University of New Orleans. His .348 batting average during SEC play is second on the team behind junior first baseman Matt Clark. Hollander started all six games of the Tigers’ two previous SEC series and had one home run and three RBIs. “We’ll just have to pick up the pieces and figure out a way to make up for Mike [Hollander] being out a little while,” Mainieri said. “Hopefully it won’t be too long.” Mainieri said Hollander is likely out at least two weeks. Florida has rolled through most of its pervious conference games behind strong pitching. The pitching staff boasts a 3.23 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 16 walks in 53 innings of work. “Our weekend starters have pitched well and given us a chance to win,” said Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “Hopefully they will continue to do that.” LSU, contrarily, has a team ERA of 5.54 in 50 1/3 innings of work. LSU junior Blake Martin (1-1, 4.10 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Tigers tonight against Florida sophomore Billy Bullock (2-2, 3.23 ERA). Mainieri has not decided who will pitch Saturday and Sunday’s games, but he said fans could see freshman Daniel Bradshaw. “Unfortunately I had to extend Bradshaw [against UNO], so he probably won’t be ready in time for Friday, but hopefully Saturday or Sunday, he’ll be ready,” he said. Bradshaw pitched three innings and struck out five while giving up two earned runs Wednesday against the Privateers. He has pitched 18 innings and has a 4.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts and seven walks. Florida junior Patrick Keating (3-0, 2.92 ERA) will get the start Saturday while freshman Tommy Toledo (4-0, 1.93 ERA) will pitch Sunday.
—-Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]