Softball coach Yvette Girouard is using the Nick Saban approach to this weekend’s series with Alabama.
“I hate to sound like Coach Saban, but [every game is] big,” Girouard said. “One is no bigger than the rest. But, of course, we need this weekend to keep pace with the rest of the pack.”
Keeping up with the pack begins this weekend as the Tigers head to Tuscaloosa for a three-game weekend with the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide.
The No. 8 Tigers currently sit in third place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division, one game behind Alabama and three games behind Auburn.
Third baseman Julie Wiese said this weekend has major implications on how the SEC standings will shape up.
“We all know this weekend is huge,” Wiese said. “So we are just trying to stay focused and concentrate on what we want to do.”
Alabama (28-6, 9-3 SEC) is coming off a series loss to Florida this past week. Girouard said the Tide’s loss does not come as a shock to her.
“This is the most talented the SEC has ever been in softball,” Girouard said. “The league is good. It is coached well, and it has good athletes.”
The Tigers and Tide matchup has been one of the biggest rivalries in the SEC for the past couple of years. Last season, the Tigers took 2-of-3 games from the Tide at Tiger Park but dropped two games to the Tide in the SEC Tournament.
Wiese said the Tigers do not want to leave Tuscaloosa with anything less than three wins.
“Of course, Alabama is huge and it’s a big rival,” Wiese said. “But we want to sweep them. We don’t want to just win one or two games — we want to sweep.”
Freshman pitcher Emily Turner has yet to play in an LSU-Alabama game, but has heard the stories of how big the rivalry is.
“From what I hear this is the biggest one and I am definitely ready to get out there,” Turner said.
Alabama is led offensively by senior first baseman Jackie McClain. McClain leads the team with a .404 batting average and a slugging percentage of .606.
“They have good, sound pitching and they can hit the ball,” Girouard said. “And they do not give up. They have won so many ball games in the last inning.”
The Tide’s pitching staff is led by Erin Wright, who leads the team with an 11-2 record and a 1.22 ERA. Sophomore right-hander Stephanie VanBrakle (9-4, 1.57 ERA) leads the team in strikeouts with 133.
“In the summer, I played against VanBreckle,” Turner said. “She is a really good pitcher, but I have no doubt that our hitters are going to perform at the top level. Personally, I think we have the best team in the SEC and in the nation.”
Wiese said being among the elite teams in the country is something the Tigers relish.
“We like to play with people, thinking that we have the target on our back,” Wiese said. “If we play at the level of our capability and ability level, then we will be fine no matter who we play. And I think everybody on this team knows that it’s just a matter of bringing that level of competition to every game we play.”
First pitch is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. with the second half of the doubleheader at 3 p.m. Sunday’s first pitch at Alabama Softball Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Network.