The ear-to-ear smile from senior LSU center fielder Trena Peel spoke volumes.
When the topic of LSU locking up its fourth straight Southeastern Conference softball championship arose, Peel didn't try to mask her emotions.
"It's like a tradition for me," Peel said. "It's going to be so great to do it at home."
LSU's spent the month of April trying position itself to attain its season-long goal once the regular season concludes in May.
The Tigers promptly went out won 11 of 12 games away from home and return to Tiger Park tonight with the chance to wrap up, not only their fourth straight overall SEC championship, but sixth straight Western Division crown as well.
Third-ranked LSU (45-8, 23-3) can do both with a sweep of fourth-place Auburn (33-21, 11-13) in a 6 p.m. doubleheader today at Tiger Park. The two teams will complete their three-game series Thursday with a 3 p.m. single game.
"It's going to be so awesome as a senior to be able to have it at home," senior second baseman April Janzen said. "This makes the whole middle of the season (road trip) worth it. We've worked hard since the Alabama series and there's still a lot of hard work and determination left to reach our other goals. But we're ready for Auburn."
LSU came within a 1-0, 10 inning defeat at Alabama of completing a perfect 12-game April road swing. The Tigers swept Arkansas, Kentucky and Ole Miss and took two of three against the Crimson Tide to grab a 1 1/2 lead heading into their final series today.
"From the first day we talked about how tough the month of April would be and I'm just proud of the kids and the team," LSU coach Yvette Girouard said. "We told them the deck would be stacked against us and they handled it tremendously. They just have so much pride. They were totally focused throughout that trip. There was do discussion of anything but winning."
The pitching of All-Americans Britni Sneed (25-5, 0.86 earned run average) and Kristin Schmidt (16-3, 0.88) has a focal point of LSU's current 15-game winning streak with nine shutouts and three no-hitters in that stretch. The Tigers have won 24 of their last 25 games and are on target to reach the 50-win plateau for the fourth consecutive season.
"We really haven't played as well as we're capable of," said Peel, who leads the team with a .366 average and a nation's-best 13 triples. "Our hitting is a concern because we're leaving too many runners on base. But we keep coming up with wins and that's what it's all about ... scratching and clawing."
Auburn, which has won seven of its last nine games, finds itself with plenty to play for as well. They trail idle Arkansas (37-22-1, 13-14) by 1 1/2 games for the fifth seed in next week's SEC Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Second-team All-America outfielder Ashley Moore is the team leader offensively with a .357 average, 15 homers and 30 RBIs.
"To end it here ... in front of our fans ... will be great," Peel said.
NOTES: Both games of the doubleheader will be broadcast by WJNH (107.3-FM). ... Sneed needs 31 strikeouts to tie University of Louisiana at Monroe's Sarah Dawson for fifth on the NCAA's all-time strikeout list with 1,280.... LSU has defeated Auburn 19 of 22 times, including four of five last season. ... Auburn pitcher Jennifer Lofton (10-10, 2.47) graduated from West Ouachita and catcher Deni Zeigler (.271, 5 HRs, 21 RBIS) graduated West Monroe.
