The LSU softball team escaped with a win at Nicholls State last season thanks to a strong pitching effort by then-senior Kristen Schmidt. Yet according to coach Yvette Girouard, winning on the road never seemed harder.
“Their football team harassed us,” Girouard said. “This is a big game on their schedule, so the place will be packed.”
LSU (22-15, 6-12 Southeastern Conference) will take a break from conference play tonight in Thibodaux to take on Nicholls State for the second time this season.
Girouard said getting the experience of playing in front of a hostile crowd proves beneficial for the conference season.
“We hope we can learn in any situation,” Girouard said. “Going there in front of a hostile territory, we can learn to play with a crazy crowd.”
After defeating the Lady Colonels on March 8, LSU lost 10 of its next 11 games. Yet after a 15-9 victory at Mississippi State two weeks ago, the Tigers have gone 5-2 in taking consecutive conference series against Arkansas and Kentucky to put LSU in seventh place in the conference.
The top eight teams at the end of the regular season are eligible to make the conference tournament.
According to Girouard, learning more about where the team stands is more important than putting everything on the line.
“It’s not a win-at-all-costs situation,” Girouard said. “But at this stage, we’re just trying to get into the tournament.”
Sophomore Emily Turner will be given the night off after pitching 12 innings last weekend, Girouard said, while freshman pitcher Megan Jolly has suffered two cracked ribs.
Girouard said that while the injuries have hurt the team, players must look beyond the aches and pains.
“[Jolly’s] just going to gut it up,” Girouard said. “And we’ll just need to know when she starts to wear out.”
Girouard said freshman Tiffany Garcia will start. Garcia ranks second on the team with a 2.97 ERA. Garcia is 7-2 on the season, allowing 57 hits in 63.2 innings of work.
Turner said giving the freshman pitcher experience during the mid-week game can only help the team.
“She’s going to be needed when we get into the SEC Tournament,” Turner said. “The freshmen need to get in there.”
Nicholls State is led by pitcher Nichole Wagner, who leads the team with a 3.69 ERA and a 7-12 record. Wagner has recorded 49 strikeouts on the season.
Offensively, LSU is led by junior Lauren Castle, batting .405 with 11 doubles. Junior Camille Harris, who was just one double shy of the cycle in going 3 for 3 against Nicholls State in March, ranks second on the team at .393.
“We need to keep the same intensity at the plate,” Girouard said. “Some people have made adjustments and are getting out of their funks.”