Sophomore pitcher Emily Turner notched her sixth complete game shutout Sunday in LSU’s 10-0 defeat over Florida.
Starting all the games of the series, Turner gave up just three runs on 12 hits with 14 strikeouts in earning two of the three wins.
“She was a warrior,” Girouard said. “Her approach to the game was similar to Ole Miss. She just has to find the routine that works for her.”
The weekend was quite a turnaround for Turner, who pitched just 5.2 innings last weekend against Auburn, allowing 13 runs on 12 hits in the three losses.
 
Gainesville, We Have a Problem
Prior to last weekend’s three-game series at Florida, the LSU softball team ran into some traveling problems en route to Gainesville, Fla.
After arriving at the Baton Rouge airport at 6:45 a.m. on Friday morning, the team was re-directed to the New Orleans airport after their flight was cancelled.
Following a three-hour layover in Atlanta and a connection to Orlando, the team was then driven by van 113 miles to Gainesville, arriving at 9:15 that night.
“We just have to control the controllable,” coach Yvette Girouard said. “And the flights are something we just can’t control.”
LSU ended up missing its Friday practice due to the travel delays.
 
A Jolly Return
Despite a cracked rib, freshman pitcher Megan Jolly pitched last weekend, earning a win on Saturday.
Jolly relieved Turner in the first game of the doubleheader, shutting down the Gators in pitching 2.2 innings and allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
“Everything she’s endured is pain-tolerable,” Girouard said. “But she threw well. She’s a tough girl. It’s just one of those things where you play through the pain.”
According to Girouard, the cracked rib was a result of an hour-long coughing attack last month.
Jolly leads the team with a 2.35 ERA.
 
Return to the Tourney
The LSU softball team clinched a spot in the Southeastern Conference Tournament following last Saturday’s second win and two consecutive losses by Ole Miss.
LSU (12-15 SEC) is currently at No. 6 in the SEC Tournament standings, set to play Auburn if the season were to end today.
LSU’s only chance at moving up would require a sweep against Tennessee this weekend, as well as three straight losses by Florida.
“No one is satisfied with what’s happened this year,” Girouard said. “As a coach, I just want the opportunity to get into the postseason. Any team can get hot.”
Florida travels to Kentucky this weekend for the three-game series.