AUBURN, Ala. – No. 20 Auburn softball (20-4) concludes its four-game road swing on Wednesday, returning to non-conference play with a midweek test at Georgia Tech (15-9).
“Georgia Tech is a good program,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “They can swing it well. They have a few pitchers that can make you miss barrels. We really need to use this opportunity to refresh and refocus on playing as a team.”
First pitch at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field is set for 5 p.m. CT. Wednesday’s midweek is available on the ACC Network with Alex Pearlman and Erin Miller on the call. JJ Jackson will have live radio coverage on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network.
After over a decade hiatus, Wednesday’s marks the third consecutive season Auburn and Georgia Tech will met on the softball diamond. The two teams have played three times over the last two seasons with each game decided by one run. Auburn is searching for its first true road win in the series.
The Tigers are looking to stop a three-game losing skid after falling at No. 21 Mississippi State to open Southeastern Conference play. On the flipside, Georgia Tech is coming into the midweek off an ACC series sweep of NC State.
Jayden Gailey and Eliana Gottlieb lead the Yellow Jackets at the plate. The pair have combined for 46 hits, 31 runs scored and 23 RBI. Gracyn Tucker leads the team with six home runs and 23 RBI entering Wednesday.
In the circle, Georgia Tech holds a 3.93 team earned run average. Sophia Voyles has carried the bulk of the load with 47.1 innings pitched. She holds a team low 1.77 ERA with a 5-2 record in the circle. She has struck out 56 this season.
SJ Geurin enters the midweek tied with Oregon’s Lyndsey Grein for the national lead in wins. The duo both have 13 to their credit. Geurin also ranks tied for third nationally with four saves. The lefty has been involved in 17 of Auburn’s 20 victories by either recording the win or the save. She ranks ninth in the SEC with a 1.33 ERA.
Earning her way into the lineup, AnnaLea Adams has made the most of her opportunities. She is one of six SEC hitters to record a hit streak this season of 10 or more games as she enters the midweek on an active 10-game streak. In the last 11 games, Adams is hitting 15-for-28 (.536) with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. Abbey Smith enters Wednesday with a team leading .424 batting average and has recorded a hit in 19 of Auburn’s 24 contests.
Anna Wohlers and Icess Tresvik have combined for almost half of Auburn’s 31 home runs this season. The duo is tied for 19th in the SEC with six home runs each.