May 4, 2017 No. 9 Auburn at No. 14 Alabama
(43-8, 15-6 SEC) vs. (39-12, 11-8 SEC)
Gameday Guide -->Game NotesTicketsWatch ESPNPromotions -->
Parking -->Seating ChartLocation
Schedule
| Fri, May 5 | 7 p.m. | |
| Sat, May 6 | 7 p.m. | |
| Sun, May 7 | 12 p.m. | |
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 9 Auburn softball team is set to put a bow on the 2017 regular season when it makes the short trip to rival No. 14 Alabama. The three-game SEC series at Rhoads Stadium will take place May 5-7.
All three matchups can be streamed on the SEC Network+, and heard locally on 95.9 FM and the official Auburn app with Brit Bowen and Brad Law describing the action. Saturday's contest will be shown to a national audience on ESPN, while the finale Sunday afternoon can be viewed on ESPN2. Eric Collins, Amanda Scarborough and Laura Rutledge have the call in the booth.
The series has large implications for the upcoming the SEC Tournament next week. Auburn, currently the No. 3 seed, has already clinched a first-round bye and will play next Thursday at a time yet to be determined. The Tigers could rise to the No. 2 seed and the lowest they could fall would be the No. 4 seed.
Alabama, the current No. 5 seed, is already in its best position. The farthest the Crimson Tide could fall would be No. 7 in the annual postseason conference tournament.
Auburn has clinched a top-four finish in the SEC standings for the fifth time in program history and third consecutive season under head coach Clint Myers.
The Tigers lead the nation in double plays with 43 and average 0.84 per game. The next closest team is Campbell with 30. Auburn has turned multiple double plays in nine games, including a season-high three in contests with Missouri and Alabama State.
Auburn is the only team in the nation to rank in the top 20 in double plays, ERA and scoring. The Tigers are positioned in 17th with a 1.71 ERA and 19th in scoring at 5.84 runs per game.
Kasey Cooper, the recent SEC Player of the Week, broke the conference's all-time RBI mark against Mississippi State. She has 266 RBI, passing former Alabama player Charlotte Morgan (264), and currently ranks ninth in NCAA history. Her next target is Shelby Pendley of Arizona/Oklahoma at 269 RBI.
Carlee Wallace heads into the weekend as the only catcher in the SEC to rank in the top 15 in the league in batting average (.356), slugging percentage (.664) and on-base percentage (.484).
Following this weekend, Auburn begins postseason play at the SEC Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. Tickets are available on Tennessee's website at www.utsports.com.
Player to Watch: Kaylee Carlson
Junior pitcher Kaylee Carlson has been on a tear in her second year on The Plains. She leads the SEC in wins with 24. She is also one of only two pitchers to amass 10 victories in SEC play and is tied for third in the conference in saves with three. The Garden Grove, Calif. native owns a 13-2 record with a 1.54 ERA versus teams ranked or receiving votes this season, including three complete game shutouts.
Inside the Series: Alabama
The Tigers and Crimson Tide have faced each other 62 times with Alabama holding a 44-18 advantage. However, since head coach Clint Myers took over, Auburn has taken four of seven results, including the last three.
Career Versus the Crimson Tide
Four players have tallied multiple hits in their careers versus Alabama. Kasey Cooper leads the way with 11 base knocks and a .500 batting average. Carlee Wallace has two extra-base hits, while Jenna Abbott and Haley Fagan have each added a double.
In the circle, Jenna Abbott and Makayla Martin have seen action against the Crimson Tide. Martin touts a 1.91 ERA and has held the opposition to hit just .250. Abbott has notched a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning of work.
An Auburn Series Win Would...
A three-game series win by Auburn would give the Tigers their first in Tuscaloosa. Auburn has amassed six victories at Alabama all-time. If the Tigers emerge victorious Friday night, they would own a four-game winning streak for the third time in series history.
Last 10
In the last 10 games, Auburn has outscored the opposition 52-19, including two shutouts. The Tigers have notched 21 extra-base hits, including 13 doubles, two triples and six homers. Carlee Wallace and Kasey Cooper lead with five and four, respectively.
In the circle, Kaylee Carlson has tossed four wins with a 1.12 ERA and five complete games. Makayla Martin has added three wins.