May 26, 2017
By Tori Sisson
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - In a rematch of last year's Women's College World Series championship series, Auburn hosts reigning champ Oklahoma in a Super Regional beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
Auburn defeated Oklahoma in its season opener at the Triple Crown Tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
In the Triple Crown Tournament, Auburn faced Oklahoma's Paige Lowary-a great pitcher in her own right-instead of the Sooners' star, Paige Parker.
"She's a great pitcher, I'll give it to her," said first baseman Kendall Veach, who belted a pair of homers in Auburn's opening day win.
"Postseason, every pitcher you face is going to be good," said outfielder Victoria Draper. "So staying to our mental plan, seeing good pitches, and taking our best swing on those good pitches [we] get is going to be key."
Coming off a strong regional performance, coach Clint Myers and his team head into this Super Regional knowing what will position Auburn for success.
"We're so much better when we're just nice and calm," Myers said. "We had 31 hits, we were relaxed, and they were the best at-bats we've had in a long time. So we're hoping that that just carries right along."
Along with a calm mindset, the Tigers are relying on a rowdy home-field advantage at Jane B. Moore Field.
"I think last year we did get a little away from our plan because it was such a high pressure game and we didn't have the crowd with us," said Draper. "It was all of us in the dugout, that was pretty much our only cheering section, and then a little bit behind our dugout, so I think that will definitely help us a lot."
"I think it's a lot better to play them here instead of Oklahoma," second baseman Casey McCrackin said. "Because it's almost like they have home advantage at [the Women's College World Series], but now we have the home advantage. It's going to be really great having all these fans, they're going to want to see us take revenge."
To accommodate ticket demand, Auburn added an outfield platform that will allow 200 more fans to attend the Super Regional.
"We won't be able to duplicate the 8,000 they had in the stands, but you know, the 3,000 that we're going to have here will make it seem like 8,000," said Myers. "Smaller stadium, I'm hoping that the fans just go crazy, have fun, and you know, let them see what the South is all about-how close of a family we are. And you know, make life miserable for the Sooners. It's going to be fun."