LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard experimented with her lineups in the LSU Collegiate Classic last weekend, switching players in the infield and outfield each game.Girouard said the lineup changes help the coaching staff figure out the best mix of players for their season opener Feb. 5 against the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the Paradise Softball Classic in Honolulu.”That’s about just throwing people out there and figuring it out,” Girouard said. “We’ve got to figure out where to put everybody, but the bottom line is the people who swing the stick and get on are the ones that are going to be in the lineup.”LSU gets another chance to experiment when it faces Southeastern Louisiana tonight at 5 p.m. in Tiger Park.The scrimmage is LSU’s final fall contest and the final event hosted in old Tiger Park. New Tiger Park will open Feb. 11 when LSU plays McNeese State.The Tigers swept the Collegiate Classic last weekend, beating four Louisiana schools and Florida-based Chipola College.All 10 freshmen played in the tournament — eight of them in the infield.Some pitchers even played other positions — sophomore Casey Faile, who pitched eight innings in the tournament, spent time in the outfield.Freshman catcher Morgan Russell started all six games, helping LSU’s pitching staff rack up 58 strikeouts.”[Russell] communicates really well with the pitchers,” said junior outfielder Rachel Mitchell. Mitchell, who played all three outfield positions last weekend, said every position is still open.”Right now nobody’s position is safe,” Mitchell said. “Everybody’s been doing great, so we have to stay on our toes.”Girouard said she isn’t worried about aspects her team “obviously” needs to work on after the Collegiate Classic.”That’s the great thing about the fall,” Girouard said. “They get to make mistakes that don’t crucially hurt us.”Girouard said there are some aspects of the game her team hasn’t practiced yet.”We’ve covered first and thirds one time with a brand new team,” she said.Another change Girouard is dealing with is an increase in injuries.Girouard said she’s seeing a greater variety of injuries in recent years than ever before.”We’re starting to see the guys’ injuries,” Girouard said. “I’ve coached like 33 years now, 28 on this level, and it’s just only in the last two or three years that we have shoulder surgeries, arm surgeries.”Girouard said extra playing time in summer leagues is wearing her players out.”We need to learn from this,” Girouard said. “They need to back off some.”Mitchell said it’s a challenge coming back from summer ball and playing with new teammates.”It’s not hard to get adjusted but important that we do,” Mitchell said.—-Contact Robert Stewart at [email protected]