The softball team will take its six-game winning streak on the road this weekend when the Tigers face off with Auburn on Saturday and Sunday.
LSU (27-15, 9-12 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a 7-0 victory Wednesday night against Southeastern.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the weekend series will not be easy.
“It’s going to be a tough weekend,” Girouard said. “Auburn is riding high.”
Auburn managed to take one of three games at Georgia last weekend after taking two of three from Tennessee the week before.
Offensively, Auburn has flourished, ranking first in the conference in doubles and home runs.
In addition, No. 21-ranked Auburn has blasted 53 home runs on the season, a single-season record. The mark also ranks fifth by an SEC team.
“They’re hitting the ball all over the park,” Girouard said. “They’re putting up some numbers that are actually surprising people.”
Sophomore Holly Currie leads the team, batting .403 and ranks first on the team in slugging percentage, RBIs and doubles.
Currie was also named a top 25 finalist for the 2005 USA Softball Collegiate Division I Player of the Year by the Amateur Softball Association.
In the circle, sophomore Beth DePietro leads Auburn with a 1.67 ERA. Currie also thrives as a pitcher with batters hitting just .182 on her through 151.4 innings-pitched this season.
For LSU, sophomore Emily Turner has proved strong as of late. Turner went 3-0 last weekend against Ole Miss, allowing one earned run over 21 innings with a 0.33 ERA.
Junior Lauren Castle leads LSU at the plate, ranking fifth in the conference with a .399 average.
Girouard said Auburn has thrived thanks to a strong recruiting class.
“We knew they’d had a good recruiting year,” Girouard said. “We’re going to have to play very well to come out on top at Auburn.”
With three conference series remaining, LSU stands at No. 6 in the conference, within the top eight, being eligible for the conference tournament in Gainsville, Fla., next month.
With 10 wins in their last 12 games, freshman pitcher Megan Jolly said the team is looking forward to the matchup.
“We’re always upbeat,” Jolly said. “We’re definitely looking forward to the challenge.”
With three games set for the weekend, Auburn will have the chance to match last year’s win total of 42, the most ever in the team’s history.
“They have a good young team,” Girouard said. “They’ve surprised some people.”
The weekend series also marks the first time LSU has faced off with Auburn without being ranked since Auburn’s inagural season in 1997. LSU and Auburn matched up in the conference tournament later that season with LSU at No. 23 in the nation.
LSU has not been ranked in the top 25 this season since early this month.
“We have a lot of respect for what they’re doing right now,” Girouard said. “But if we play like we are now, I think we’ll be alright.