One can only wonder if the LSU softball team remembers how to lose. A first-inning home run from Tiger senior right fielder Rachel Mitchell and two monster innings helping propel LSU (28-4) past Southeastern Louisiana (5-15), 11-0, at North Oak Park in Hammond on Wednesday. The victory extended the Tigers’ win streak 23 games.”Mission accomplished,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “We kept the streak alive and looked good in the process.” Mitchell went 4-for-4 in the game. Sophomore first baseman Anissa Young went 3-for-4 with a home run, and sophomore right hander Brittany Mack tossed a three-hitter in the shutout. The young pitcher improved to 7-2 with the win. The Round Rock, Texas, native had a shaky outing Tuesday against Nicholls State on Tuesday. LSU won that game, 7-0.”I needed this,” Mack said. “The past two games have definitely been up and down for me. I’ve been all over the place with my control, and my confidence went down a little bit. I definitely needed this. I just tried to stay positive, and all my pitches were working pretty well.”Girouard agreed.”She has those little valleys sometimes,” Girouard said. “We just needed to get her back on track because she’s going to be very important to us throughout the stretch and the rest of her career.”Mack and the rest of LSU’s pitching staff will be crucial down the stretch. No. 13 Florida and No. 6 Alabama loom ahead on the schedule after a midweek game at McNeese State on March 31.For now, they can rest.Girouard and company have the weekend off after playing two midweek games this week against Nicholls State and Southeastern, respectively.The break will be key for some injured Tigers — sophomore outfielder Ashley Langoni and sophomore infielder Juliana Santos. Girouard hopes both will return after the break.”I think we’re all looking forward to it,” Girouard said. “It can’t come at a better time, too. It’s going to heal up a lot of people, and hopefully we’ll get Santos back and Langoni back so we’ll be at full strength and the bumps and bruises. Everybody else can have a nice weekend off.”Players are excited as well. The Tigers are not worried about tampering with the current groove they find themselves in, either.”I think we’re all looking forward to it,” Young said. “We really need it to rest and recuperate. A lot of our girls are ready to take a day off and go home.”Some won’t be just sitting around. Mack said the time off will be key to catching up on some schoolwork. “We have a huge, huge week coming up for us with Florida and Alabama away,” Mack said. “We’re going to get completely rested and get all of our injuries over with and get ahead on school so we can kick some butt next week.”—–Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]