There is no place like home. LSU has learned this the hard way this season. The Tigers host Ole Miss this weekend at Tiger Park after playing eight-straight Southeastern Conference games on the road. Their home game against McNeese State on April 2 was rained out, forcing the eight-game expedition. “I never thought I’d really say how much I’m going to appreciate Tiger Park, but we are going to this weekend,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. The series begins with a doubleheader Saturday and concludes Sunday. The No. 12 Tigers started the season 8-0 in SEC play but fell to 10-6 after finishing 2-6 on the recent road trip. They are 31-10 for the season, second in the SEC Western Division and tied for third in the overall standings. Alabama and Florida swept the Tigers, but they managed to rebound against Kentucky with a doubleheader sweep of their own. The team scored only 10 runs in six games against the Crimson Tide and Gators but racked up 18 runs in two games against the Wildcats. “It is great to get back in the win column,” Girouard said in a news release after the Kentucky games. Senior utility player Erika Sluss had a big day at the plate against Kentucky, going 3-for-6 with two home runs, seven RBIs. “I didn’t really feel any different at the plate,” Sluss said. “I just played pitch-by-pitch like coach has been telling us.” The Tigers practice today but had the day off Thursday after the long road trip. “We had a mandatory day off because we practiced on Monday, came [to Kentucky] on Tuesday, had a walk through and we played [Wednesday],” Girouard said. “It’ll be a good day off for us.” Sluss said she is excited to finally play at home again. “We’re going to have a big weekend coming back playing against Ole Miss,” Sluss said. “It’s going to be nice playing at home.” The Tigers have had an advantage at Tiger Park this season. They are 22-1 at home but only 3-6 on the road. “We’ve played very well at home so far this year, and I expect us to continue it,” Girouard said. The Tigers play two more series at home this season but travel two of the next three weekends after the Ole Miss series. The two series at home are the last remaining regular season home games for Tiger Park. The new Tiger Park, which will be located on Skip Bertman Drive across from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, is scheduled to open for the 2009 season. “It’s our second to last series [at home],” Sluss said. “We’re just looking forward to being home and cherishing the last two [home] series that the seniors have.”
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