Just when it seems like the top-ranked Florida Gators have run out of goals and records to achieve, another opportunity awaits on the horizon this weekend in Baton Rouge against No. 18/19 Louisiana State.
Florida (43-3, 20-1 SEC East) has the opportunity not only to win its first series in Baton Rouge but also its first game since Tim Walton took over as head coach in 2006. The Gators are 0-6 against the Tigers (27-10-1, 10-6-1 SEC West) during Walton’s tenure, getting swept in 2006 and 2007. Florida hopes to change that in the three-game series at the new Tiger Park that begins with a Saturday doubleheader at 2 p.m. and concludes Sunday with a single game at 2 p.m.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the environment,” Walton said. “It is tough to play there in any sport because their fans are so passionate and they really do a good job and create a great atmosphere and great energy level.”
But Walton is quick to remind people that the experience also will be different for the Tigers since Florida will be fielding a different team than the last time the teams met in Louisiana. Most of the players are not even aware of Florida’s recent struggles in Baton Rouge. They see LSU as nothing more than an obstacle to achieving one of their preseason goals.
“I don’t think any of the girls know that,” said junior left fielder Francesca Enea. “I didn’t know that. Our goal at the beginning of the year we set was to win every series, so it’s our goal to beat them. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Although history seems to be on LSU’s side, the Tigers may actually be the ones looking to prove themselves after getting swept in Gainesville last year by scores of 7-1, 2-0 and 6-0.
“We’re really looking forward to going there,” Enea said. “We’re going to have to go there with our ‘A’ game. They’re going to want revenge from last year when we swept them. They’re always a tough team to play and they have some really good players on their team, so we’re looking forward to going there.”
The Tigers may try to keep the Gators on their toes throughout the series with their deep pitching rotation. Freshman Brittany Mack (11-2, 2.53 ERA) and junior Cody Trahan (7-3, 2.30 ERA) should get the majority of the playing time, but sophomore Casey Faile (6-2, 1.25 ERA) may see a lot of the time out of the bullpen. Faile has made 10 of her 13 appearances in relief. Junior Kristen Shortridge (3-3, 4.70 ERA) gives the Tigers a fourth pitching option.
Shortridge, who hit the home run to propel Baylor to the College World Series in 2007, transferred to LSU after that season and provides the Tigers with a valuable two-way option, leading the team with a .423 batting average and 18 stolen bases as a center fielder. Junior Rachel Mitchell (.321, 2 HR, team-leading 30 RBI) and freshman Anissa Young, an all-or-nothing threat who leads the team in home runs (7) and strikeouts (32), also are key players in the LSU lineup.
Walton will use senior right-hander Stacey Nelson (25-3, 0.45 ERA) in her usual two games of the series, the opener Saturday and Sunday. Walton is also planning to get freshman Alicia Sisco more playing time after she went 2-for-2 against Central Florida Wednesday in her first game in two weeks. Sisco is batting .438 this season in 20 games (13 starts).
“Alicia will have to see some time,” Walton said. “Anytime I put her in the lineup, she comes through. So I’ll give her a shot again. Where in the lineup? I don’t know yet.”
Walton also wants to get Ali Gardiner back on track by continuing to bat her lower in the batting order. Gardiner batted sixth Wednesday as opposed to her usual spot at third in the lineup. The senior is an important piece to the Gators’ title run, so Walton is trying to take the right approach when getting her back on track.
“You’ve got to be careful when you’re talking about a hitter because you can’t coach them up too much and try to do too many things,” Walton said. “You can’t coach them up too little because then they start to beat themselves up. You just got to try to do a good job with a good mixture of confidence and a good mixture of breaking them down so they get back to reality a little bit too. But it’s been tough. She’s used to success and she’s not getting it, so she has to try to find a way to build up her own confidence and that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”
Gardiner has only recorded one hit in her past six games, but a matchup with LSU may be the antidote to her hitting woes. Last year, Gardiner went 4-for-7 with a home run and 3 RBI in last year’s series against the Tigers.