LSU baseball is in the midst of a real losing streak for the first time this season.The No. 15 Tigers (32-10, 11-7) have had only one losing streak — back-to-back losses against Auburn — thus far this season before entering their current four-game skid.LSU was swept by Ole Miss on the road last weekend and dropped a midweek contest to UNO on Tuesday.”We know what it felt like to win it all, and we know what we have to do,” said sophomore right fielder Mikie Mahtook. “It’s a collective effort, and we’re not going to get too frustrated.”The schedule isn’t getting any easer for the Tigers as they will travel to Gainesville, Fla.,  this weekend to face No. 6 Florida in a three-game series.The Gators (28-11, 12-6) have won their last four Southeastern Conference series and are No. 2 in the SEC East behind South Carolina.”If we can have some success in these last 14 games, it’s not unreasonable to think we can still sneak into a position of even a national seed — certainly of hosting a regional,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri.Mainieri said he canceled a recruiting trip Wednesday to be with his team so he could stress the importance of the rest of the season.”I thought it was important that we address what happened [Tuesday] night and kind of put it in perspective and see where it fits in to the big picture,” Mainieri said. “With 14 games left in the regular season, where do we stand? What do we need to do? How do we get better?”Mahtook said spirits were low following the series sweep at Ole Miss, but some of the veterans on the team have emerged as vocal leaders, and the team’s morale is high.”We were disappointed obviously losing those few close games,” Mahtook said. “We knew we gave a good effort, and we played well. We just didn’t play well enough to win.”LSU junior catcher Micah Gibbs said the experience of facing a tough opposing crowd in Oxford, Miss., last weekend prepared the Tigers for what they’ll face this weekend.”We definitely got a big test this past weekend at Ole Miss,” Gibbs said. “That was easily the most hostile environment we’ve been in so far, and we’re going to have another one just like that this weekend at Florida.”One of the players trying to ensure LSU doesn’t have a repeat performance of last week will be junior pitcher Anthony Ranaudo.Ranaudo (2-1) went only 1 2/3 innings in his last outing.The 6-foot-7-inch righty allowed nine runs on nine hits in that short time while striking out two and walking one.Ranaudo said he has put his last start behind him and is ready to redeem himself Friday night.”I put it to rest,” he said. “I turned the page on it, had a good bullpen yesterday. I worked on some things, and I’m just definitely ready to get back out there on Friday against Florida. It can’t come quick enough.”Pitching against Ranaudo on Friday for Florida will be sophomore Alex Panteliodis. Panteliodis (6-2) maintains a 3.10 ERA through 56 2/3 innings pitched. He has struck out 45 batters on the season while only walking 10.Pitching on Saturday for the Gators will be freshman Hudson Randall.Randall (4-3) has 34 strikeouts and 14 walks on the season with a 3.65 ERA.Freshman Brian Johnson will be Florida’s Sunday hurler.Johnson (3-2) leads Florida’s weekend starters with a 2.91 ERA. He has struck out 31 while only walking nine.LSU’s pitchers for Saturday and Sunday have yet to be determined.
 
 
 
—-Contact Johanathan Brooks at [email protected]