Highs don’t come much higher than the one the LSU softball team is riding.
The No. 21 Tigers (25-12) have a ranking next to their name after their unprecedented sweep of then-No. 1 Alabama this past weekend.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the team’s weekend heroics are the best she has seen during Southeastern Conference play in her time in Baton Rouge.
“To sweep the No. 1 team in the country, I don’t think that’s ever been done,” Girouard said. “It was an awesome feeling.”
The performance hasn’t gone unnoticed around the country. Junior first baseman Anissa Young, who lifted LSU to two of its wins with walk-off home runs, was named USA Softball National Player of the Week.
Fresh off such an epic series, Girouard said the challenge now is recovering — both mentally and physically — in time for tonight’s game at McNeese State (22-21).
The Cowgirls represent a significant drop in competition from the nation’s No. 1 team, but they are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and the game is in Lake Charles.
“As a coach that’s your worst fear — the crash coming down,” Girouard said. “We’re on the road where McNeese always plays well, but you would assume they feel so good about themselves now and have a swag of confidence.”
LSU is now on a 10-game winning streak, and with Alabama out of the way, another big SEC series awaits this weekend when No. 6 Tennessee comes to Tiger Park.
“We can’t look ahead to this weekend yet. We’ll look at that Thursday, because first we have to get to McNeese,” said senior designated plater Tiffany Shaw.
On top of that, the clash with the Crimson Tide was about as draining as a series could be. While a typical softball series would contain 21 innings, the Tigers and Tide combined to play 31 largely thanks to two marathon extra-inning games.
The long outings mean Girouard will have to keep an extra watch on her pitching staff, which was spectacular in the sweep. Junior pitcher Brittany Mack threw a staggering 328 pitches in two appearances, including a complete game Friday night with 14 innings.
“Brittany was incredible this weekend,” said sophomore pitcher Rachele Fico. “The mental focus that it takes to go that long in a game and stay ahead of your counts and come out firing with every pitch — it’s incredible.”
The performance earned Mack the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week and SEC Pitcher of the Week.
“She got the day off yesterday and the day off again today,” Girouard said. “My plans are to not use her [against McNeese].”
Fico also starred, pitching all 10 innings in the second extra-inning game for a win.
“We took [Monday] as an off day and a day of rest to recuperate and celebrate our big weekend,” Fico said. “But it’s done now, it’s over with and our focus now is on McNeese.”
 
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Contact David Helman at [email protected]