The LSU softball team will look to extend its 15-game winning streak on Wednesday as the Tigers host Southern Mississippi at Tiger Park.
LSU (42-7, 19-4 Southeastern Conference) has not lost since dropping two of three to the Georgia Bulldogs on March 21.
The Tigers are coming off a sweep at Ole Miss last weekend, in which they clinched a spot in the SEC Tournament, which is set to begin May 13 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Sophomore Stephanie Hill said the team is looking to go further than just clinching a spot in the tournament.
“It’s great to be in the tournament, but our goal is to win the SEC regular season and tournament,” Hill said. “We can’t just be satisfied with getting into the tournament.”
Hill added she is not worried about keeping up with the winning streak.
“I don’t think we really feel any pressure with the winning streak,” Hill said. “Having a winning streak is something we have to do in order to win the SEC, and that is what we are focused on.”
Southern Miss (24-21, 11-4 Conference USA) is coming off a 2-1 series victory at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, sweeping both games on Saturday before dropping Sunday’s game.
Led by senior outfielder Auriel Jenkins, Southern Miss. will look to avoid a season sweep, as LSU is already 3-0 on the year against the Golden Eagles.
Jenkins currently leads the team in batting average (.402), runs (32) and total bases (68).
Coach Yvette Girouard said she is primarly focused on working somebody in at third base.
“What we’re going to have to do is figure out our situation at third,” Girouard said. “Hopefully, Julie [Wiese] will be back for the weekend.”
Wiese sliced her forehead open against Ole Miss after fouling a pitch and deflecting it off of her head.
Although she will not be playing tonight, Wiese said she is looking forward to being back at home.
“We finally get to play in front of our home fans,” Wiese said. “We finally get to play back in Baton Rouge under the lights. We can’t be worried about who we’re playing. We just have to worry about playing hard.”
Hill said other players will have to step up with Wiese out until Saturday.
“She’s the rock of our team and definitely the rock of the infield,” Hill said. “We all have to step up and be leaders in our own way.”
Hill added despite Wiese’s injury, she still plays a big role off the field.
“We’ll try to make up with her absence on the field,” Hill said. “She’s definitely brought enough off the field for us.”
With the loss of Wiese, Girouard said players stepping up when they need to is the team’s strength.
“The great thing about this team is that we’re balanced,” Girouard said. “When somebody is not hot, somebody else steps up. That’s the mark of a very athletic team.”
In the circle, LSU will send freshman pitcher Emily Turner to face off against SMU’s Jessica Holaway.
Turner is currently sporting a 15-3 record with a 1.70 ERA.
Halloway will look to improve upon her 12-5 record. She currently leads the team in ERA (2.57), innings pitched (138.2), and strikeouts (86).
Following tonight’s game, LSU will welcome Auburn to town this weekend for a three game series.