Devastation. Annihilation. Baseball.
Those three words never rang so clear to the LSU baseball team as they will this weekend while traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala., just a week after a tornado ravaged the city.
“The situation in Tuscaloosa is so sad,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Your heart just bleeds for the people there.”
All three games will remain in Tuscaloosa despite the disaster and a curfew that was extended Thursday for tornado-ravaged areas.
Mainieri said he’s unsure how the Tigers (29-17, 7-14) or the Crimson Tide (28-19, 10-11) will react to the magnitude of the situation.
“I’m sure it’s a tough time for them, and I’m sure it’s going to be an emotional thing to be playing again,” Mainieri said. “We’re going to drive through some devastated areas. It’s really hard.”
Mainieri contacted Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard after the storm to check on the condition of his players and staff.
“He told me everybody was safe, although there were some harrowing times,” Mainieri said.
LSU is vying for a spot in the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments with three SEC series remaining on the schedule.
The Tigers enter the weekend on a five-game winning streak — their first since beginning SEC play — while Alabama has dropped three of its last four series.
Mainieri said the Tigers have to balance sensitivity toward the situation in Alabama while taking care of business on the field.
“We’re playing with confidence, and now it’s just time to go on the road and get some wins in the SEC,” Mainieri said. “We haven’t done that in a while.”
LSU is 3-8 on the road this year and just 1-8 in conference play. The Tigers are continuing an unpleasant trend after getting swept in the final three road series last season.
Still, junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook said he thinks too much emphasis is placed on hitting the road.
“The only difference is you’re not sleeping on your own bed, you’re sleeping in your hotel room,” he said. “Personally, I like playing on the road. I don’t mind it.”
It was all LSU last year when the two teams clashed at Alex Box Stadium. A 14th-inning home run from then-sophomore first baseman Grant Dozar capped the sweep for the Tigers.
The Tigers took two of three from the Crimson Tide in 2009. LSU is 30-10 against Alabama in the past 11 seasons and has won nine of its last 11 SEC regular-season series against the Tide, including five straight.
“I always enjoy coaching against Alabama,” Mainieri said. “The games always seem to be great games and very emotional.”
Alabama is tied for first place in the SEC West and boasts three players with batting averages higher than .320 and two weekend starters with at least 55 strikeouts.
Friday’s pitching matchup pits LSU freshman Kurt McCune against Alabama senior Nathan Kilcrease, both of whom possess a 5-3 record and a sub-3.50 ERA.
LSU enters the series three games behind Alabama. The Tigers are two games behind in the race for the eighth spot in the SEC tournament.
Mainieri said the diamond should be relatively untarnished this weekend, though areas around the stadium could be in disarray.
Sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes said he had no idea where the games would be played this weekend when he first heard the news.
“It is a little surprising we’re going to play there after everything that’s happened,” he said.
Mainieri said he expects the Crimson Tide to play with extra gusto and determination after the recent events.
“We’re going to go out there and try to put all that behind us and out of our minds as much as possible,” he said.
Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner.
 
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