Crunch time.
The cellar dwellers of the Southeastern Conference will vie to crawl up in the standings when LSU (25-17, 4-14) hosts Kentucky (20-22, 4-14) tonight in the first of four more SEC series for the Tigers before the regular season ends.
“It’s time to get it done, or we’re not going to play in the postseason,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “My feelings are if somehow we can be successful in each series the rest of the way out, and maybe a little bit more than just winning the series, I think we have a good shot at making the playoffs.”
Kentucky doubled its SEC win total last weekend with a series win against Arkansas, which swept LSU earlier this season.
The Tigers mustered a 12-3 win Tuesday against Nicholls State but haven’t had the same luck in the SEC, dropping eight of their last nine conference games.
“We’ve got to start making our run now,” said junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook. “We can’t be content with just playing well. We’ve got to win games, and every game now is do-or-die.”
LSU is no stranger to Kentucky’s projected starter tonight, junior pitcher Alex Meyer.
Two years ago Meyer tossed a two-hitter in five innings in a 3-1 loss to the Tigers. Last season was a different story as LSU chased Meyer after an inning when he allowed two runs and four walks.
Meyer (4-5) is among the elite SEC pitchers this season. He tossed his third complete game of the season in a three-hitter this past weekend against Arkansas, giving up one run in a 3-2 victory. Meyer ranks third in innings pitched (44) and second in strikeouts (42) among pitchers in SEC games.
“They’ve got a good guy in Meyer they’re going to throw Thursday night, but we’re going to be ready,” said junior designated hitter Trey Watkins. “We had a team meeting [Monday], and everybody’s on board now. It’s a different attitude. You can see it.”
Opposing Meyer is LSU freshman pitcher Kurt McCune, who had been rolling along flawlessly in his first season before giving up five runs in five innings to Auburn and eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against Vanderbilt in his last two starts.
Mainieri compared McCune’s recent struggles to fellow freshman pitcher Kevin Gausman, who persevered through a similar stretch earlier in the season, surrendering seven runs in two innings against Georgia and six runs in 2 1/3 innings against Ole Miss.
“Now he’s got to kind of regroup and re-establish himself, and I feel very confident he’ll do that,” Mainieri said.
Since Gausman’s rough outings, he tossed eight scoreless innings against Arkansas and allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings against Auburn before giving up five runs in 5 2/3 innings to Vanderbilt.
Mainieri said he’s not concerned about the young starters’ fatigue as the regular season draws to a close.
“They’re ready to go this weekend,” he said. “They know what’s at stake, believe me. They’ve got four starts left each, and they’re all going to be critical.”
Mainieri said he plans to continue to use Watkins as the leadoff hitter and freshman left fielder Spencer Ware in the two-hole.
Watkins, who recently switched from left field to designated hitter, said he finally feels comfortable at the plate once again.
He had three hits Tuesday against Nicholls and went 2-for-3 with three runs against Vanderbilt in the series cap.
“I’ve got my confidence back, which is key,” Watkins said. “My swing definitely feels a lot better now.”
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]