When LSU returned home from its series sweep against Tennessee, LSU coach Paul Mainieri had his team thinking about the big picture.
Mainieri wrote down the current Southeastern Conference standings on the team’s whiteboard, where LSU only sits one game behind the SEC West and two behind overall SEC leader Florida.
Of late, they’ve won nine straight.
Earlier in the season, his team was trying find itself. Parts of his team’s growth has been ugly and brutal, but, as of late, it has turned out satisfactorily.
The No. 10 LSU baseball team has seen just about everyone of those stages, starting off with an infield that only returned one true starter in its infield. The Tigers (37-16, 17-10 SEC) started the season 2-5 in SEC play that had Tiger faithful up in arms.
There was the series against Texas A&M where a lack of clutch hits plagued the offense, scoring just five runs, leaving 27 runners on the base path and hitting 3-for-29 with runners in scoring position.
It was also a season of first’s for Mainieri. When LSU dropped its series to division rival Mississippi State, it was the first time during Mainieri’s tenure, and the Tigers were shut out at home against Alabama for the first time since 2000.
But, all of that is behind the Tigers now.
Currently on a nine-game win-streak and in the thick of the SEC race, LSU has seemed to put its past woes behind them.
“Coach [Mainieri] said at the beginning of the season that we’re going to be a completely different team in May, than we were in January,” said LSU first baseman Greg Deichmann on Monday. “I think everybody can see that now. The inexperience factor is kind of out the window. We’re not blaming anything on youth anymore.”
During its win-streak, LSU has won in a variety of ways. Four of its wins have been by one run, with two of them coming in extra innings. The offense has picked up production, averaging about six runs a game.
When recalling on the past difficulties of this season, Mainieri spoke to how even though his team dropped series in conference, they weren’t swept.
“You never give up,” Mainieri said. “This is why you never give up, because you know anything is possible. All those weekend where we may have lost a series, but we didn’t swept. There’s a big difference between being 0-3 and 1-2 in a weekend series…We’re hanging in there and I’m proud of our guys.”
One of the players who has been leading the turnaround for LSU is junior shortstop Kramer Robertson.
Robertson, who played mainly at second base his entire career, has flourished in his new role at shortstop defensively and offensively. The Waco, Texas native is fifth on the team in batting of average and has been a rock at shortstop.
His toughness to stay in the game against Arkansas after he was hit in the mouth by a relay throw from outfielder Jake Fraley showed his leadership and has been one of the highlights for the Tigers during their win-streak.
After struggling during his first two seasons, Mainieri said he’s “proud” of where Robertson is now.
“This kid is playing great, Mainieri said. “I’m not sure we played a team all year where I could say the other team’s shortstop outplayed our shortstop that weekend. The kid’s turned into a tremendous ballplayer. He kind of epitomizes the growth of our team.”
With one week left in the season, Mainieri feels like his team is in prime for a national seed if his team takes care of business against Florida.
“If we can win this series against Florida and get little bit of help, we’d finish in the four of the league,” Mainieri said.
