The 2009 LSU softball team finished with the fourth-best conference record in the Southeastern Conference last season, and the three teams who finished ahead of the Tigers played their way into the College World Series. This season’s No. 14 Tigers begin Southeastern Conference play Saturday in Columbia, S.C., against South Carolina.LSU (18-4) enters the weekend series with a 13-game winning streak — the longest since the Tiger’s 17-game winning streak in 2008.The Tigers have played their last 17 games at home and haven’t been on the road since Feb. 14, in Austin, Texas. “It’s absolutely imperative that we have a fast start, because the SEC is so tough,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “Even our best teams managed to drop a game here or there to [South Carolina] on the road.”The Gamecocks have struggled lately, losing seven of their last eight games.South Carolina (9-11) suffered defeats in its first conference games Wednesday against Ole Miss, 3-0 and 6-3, respectively.The Tigers have been solid from the plate and from the circle, outscoring opponents 85-11 during their current streak.”We’ve been working really hard at swinging at good pitches,” said junior designated player Ashley Applegate. “Now we’re doing it consistently when there are runners on bases.”LSU has been led offensively by senior center fielder Kirsten Shortridge, who is fourth in the SEC with 29 hits and tied for first in the SEC with 20 stolen bases.The most reliable part of the team has possibly been its pitching staff. The Tigers lead the SEC with a 0.91 team ERA.”We have a lot of depth,” said Shortridge, who has earned two wins from the circle this season. “It’s important as a pitching staff to know that someone can pick you up and not feel like the whole thing is your shoulders.”South Carolina sophomore pitcher Audrey Broyles has one of the lowest ERAs in the SEC with a 0.99 ERA and has given up only 24 hits as opposed to her 45 strikeouts.But the Gamecock starter has only posted a 3-3 record and has given up 12 runs this season, six of which were earned.Broyles earned losses last season as a freshman against LSU in all three games between the two teams.____Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]