LSU’s softball team is running out of time.The Tigers (27-13-1) have just two Southeastern Conference series remaining after being swept by Florida last weekend, and tonight’s game against McNeese State (23-25) is LSU’s final nonconference game before postseason play begins.”It’s onward and forward,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “This is the stretch run, and we’ve got to piecemeal this together to get us to the postseason.”The No. 19 Tigers failed to cross home plate in three games against the No. 1 Gators, but history says they’ll have an easier time against the Cowboys.LSU is 8-0 in midweek, nonconference games this season and has outscored its opposition by a combined score of 44-9. The Tigers met McNeese State earlier in the season, opening the new Tiger Park with a 6-0 shutout win.The Cowboys are just 6-6 in the month of April but sit tied for second place in the Southland Conference.”We need to be ready to play,” Girouard said. “We only beat Nicholls State 2-1, and I’m sure we’re going to pack the park in Lake Charles.”LSU is 8-0 against McNeese State this decade, but the Tigers will be playing against more than just the Cowboys.Injuries continue to plague the Tigers’ lineup as junior outfielder Rachel Mitchell is a game-time decision with an ankle injury. Mitchell twisted her ankle several weeks ago, and Girouard said she aggravated it again Tuesday morning while walking to class. The Tigers’ pitching staff continues to deal with a season of bumps and bruises.LSU junior pitcher Cody Trahan is still battling an offseason back injury, and freshman pitcher Brittany Mack injured her forearm during conference play.”We need to rest Cody and Brittany Mack for the weekend,” Girouard said. “[Junior outfielder] Kirsten Shortridge jammed her finger over the weekend or else we probably would’ve pitched her against Florida.”Trahan said the injuries to herself and senior pitcher Dani Hofer have forced the pitching staff into early maturity.”We’re all just going to have to just do our part,” she said. “Brittany Mack has done a great job coming in as a freshman. She didn’t even expect to have to play this year … But there’s no choice at this point. We have to step it up and do our best.”LSU sophomore pitcher Casey Faile will get the start against McNeese, while Shortridge may see time as a relief pitcher.Faile gave up seven hits and six runs in three innings of work Sunday against Florida.”It takes a lot out of you when you have all those hits, especially when we played so well Saturday,” Faile said. “We need to bounce back from Florida, but we know that we have each others’ backs in any situation.”- – – -Contact David Helman at [email protected]