Talk about on being on fire. The LSU softball team, after pummeling Ole Miss twice Wednesday, welcomes Auburn (15-9, 2-3) to town enjoying an 18-game win streak. Senior pitcher Cody Trahan said Wednesday’s performance gives the team a nice boost heading into the weekend.”It’s good. Coming off a win like this, we don’t have to wait a whole week to get a next opponent,” Trahan said. “We come in here two days later, and we have Auburn coming in here at home. We have a chance to get rolling in the SEC, and we need to get wins where we can get them.”Auburn senior pitcher Anna Thompson might stand in the way of letting Auburn play ball. Thompson’s play has earned her a second straight Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week honor. ”Anna Thompson is a very fine SEC pitcher,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “She is one of the better pitchers in the country. If we chase pitches, she will make us look silly. We have to do some in-focus practice for the next two days.”The No. 14 Tigers (23-4, 5-0) trounced the Rebels, 7-1 and 2-1, respectively in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Tiger Park to stay undefeated in SEC play. Current SEC Player of the Week Kirsten Shortridge went 4-for-7 during the two-game slate, scoring three runs.”What can you say about Kirsten Shortridge?” Girouard said. “She took the game into her own hands with her speed and turned it on tonight for us.”Shortridge wasn’t the only star. The pitching staff was excellent through both games, only allowing the Rebels a measly two combined runs.The combo of Trahan and sophomore pitcher Brittany Mack made life rough for Rebel hitters. Plus, having a shutdown closer in freshman Rachele Fico doesn’t hurt, either.”We have enough pitchers to where we don’t necessarily have to throw a complete game,” Trahan said. “Every complete game we throw, somebody gets a rest. That’s big for us. At the same time, if anything happens, we know somebody is behind us and throw the pitches we want to throw.”Girouard is also thrilled with the performance from the circle.”It’s been a luxury having that many arms,” Girouard said.Trahan has been the jewel of the staff thus far. She threw six innings in the first soiree and earned her seventh win of the season along the way. She attributes her success to getting ahead of hitters.”Coaches always preach to us to get ahead,” Trahan said. “I think that’s something I’ve really worked on this year. As beat up as I’ve been, having a low pitch count helps out a lot. If I can get ahead on a batter, it allows me to do that. The next game is just that much easier.”Girouard agreed.”Cody, I thought, was pretty much in control,” Girouard said. “I thought she, for the most part, was getting ahead of people. That’s been the key for Cody this year, is getting ahead.”——Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]