Heading into last weekend’s series at Auburn, the LSU softball team was in the midst of a six-game winning streak and looking to gain ground in conference standings. Despite being swept at Auburn, LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the team remains upbeat for its next series at No. 16 Florida.
“The practices have been very good,” Girouard said. “They know what’s at stake.”
LSU (27-18, 9-15 Southeastern Conference) is currently No. 8 in the overall conference standings. The top eight teams are eligible for the conference tournament in Gainesville, Fla.
With their second-straight road series set to begin this Saturday, Girouard said the task at hand is not easy.
“We’ve always struggled at Florida,” Girouard said. “And Florida plays awfully well at home. All we can do is go in there and try to do better.”
In LSU’s last contest at Florida in 2003, the Tigers lost two of three, including being shut out 4-0 in the series finale.
Currently two games ahead of Ole Miss for the last spot in the conference tournament, LSU must face No. 9 Tennessee next weekend at home to end the season.
“Every coach wants their team to get into the postseason,” Girouard said. “It’s the start of a new season, and any team can get hot.”
Girouard said with the team in its current position, making the tournament will not be easy.
“There’s no question we have the toughest schedule for teams looking to get in,” Girouard said. “I just want to play well so we can all feel good about ourselves.”
Ole Miss still has Mississippi State, Tennessee and Arkansas remaining on the schedule. Arkansas, five games out of the eighth spot with an outside chance of become eligible, faces off with Ole Miss and Alabama to end the season.
Florida, like LSU, is coming off a sweep at the hands of Auburn earlier this week. While the Gators are not outstanding offensively, ranked seventh in the conference with a .267 team average, defense is the strong point.
“Florida has made some things happen early,” Girouard said. “They play good defense.”
Florida ranks No. 3 in the conference with a .967 fielding percentage. Yet according to Girouard, Florida may not be the only problem for LSU.
“Maybe the enemy isn’t Florida,” Girouard said. “The enemy for LSU is LSU.”
The Tigers left a total of 22 runners on base last weekend at Auburn.
Sophomore Emily Turner will head to the circle for LSU. With a 14-12 record, Turner ranks second on the team with a 2.67 ERA.
According to Girouard, freshman pitcher Megan Jolly re-injured a cracked rib during practice this week, possibly knocking her out for the year.
“It looks like it will be a problem all over again,” Girouard said.
Florida is led by Lindsey Cameron, batting .396 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs on the year.
“We need people to build their roles and realize that every little thing counts,” Girouard said. “Everything we do counts. It’s just mind-boggling to see how much that’s true.” Decades of Darlings