LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard has no illusions about this weekend’s visit from No. 1 Florida.”It’s hard to tell the kids that it’s just another series — that’s kind of coach speak,” Girouard said. “They know it’s not another series — this is the No. 1 team coming in. This is the team that won the [Southeastern Conference] last year and is running away with it now … For me to say it’s just another game is silly.”The No. 18 Tigers (27-10-1, 10-6-1) enter the series on a four-game winning streak, including two straight conference wins against Arkansas. But winning streaks haven’t meant much to the Gators (43-3, 20-1) in the recent past.Florida dashed a 17-game LSU winning streak last season in Gainesville, Fla., outscoring the Tigers 15-1 in a three-game sweep.”This is what you come to LSU for and what you live for as an athlete,” Girouard said. “It’s the biggest game on the biggest stage.”Hitting will be crucial if the Tigers are to have a successful outing this time around. LSU is 3-4-1 in its past three SEC series, but blasted Southeastern Louisiana for 17 runs and 23 hits in Wednesday night’s doubleheader sweep.”It’s time to get in the groove and come through in our primetime at bats,” said LSU sophomore designated player Ashley Applegate. “We’ve struggled with our hitting a lot … but we’ve just got to stay focused and stay confident.”The Tigers can take confidence knowing they’ve beaten two of the three teams which have defeated the Gators in Baylor and No. 7 Alabama. The Crimson Tide was favored to beat LSU in a doubleheader at Tiger Park, but the Tigers walked away with the sweep.”Not a lot of people gave us a chance against Alabama, and we beat them twice,” Girouard said. “Is Florida talented? Absolutely. But if we play the way we’re capable of, I think we can give them a run for their money.”The LSU pitching staff will need a big weekend to hold off a Florida lineup that has a collective batting average of .325 and is averaging 6.5 runs per game to LSU’s 4.9. Sophomore pitcher Casey Faile threw a career-high eight strikeouts Wednesday night, while freshman pitcher Brittany Mack earned her 11th win of the season.Faile said the enthusiasm generated by sweeping Southeastern Louisiana will help the Tigers to a strong weekend performance.”I’ve been very pleased with Faile. She’s really come on in the last couple weeks, and it’s good to know we have that many arms,” Girouard said.” We’re working hard on being consistent, and that’s our problem.”The series starts LSU’s Super Tiger Weekend. Fans who show up for tomorrow’s 1 p.m. start will receive free T-shirts.”It’s definitely going to be a full stadium,” Faile said. “Florida’s a big team, and it’s going to be a challenge. It will be exciting to see all the people who come out.”—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]