March 15, 2018
No. 12 Alabama at No. 14 Auburn
Auburn Game Notes | Alabama Game Notes
AUBURN, Ala. - No. 14 Auburn softball is set to host 12th-ranked Alabama for a three-game home series Friday through Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Friday's game begins at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on SEC Network . Saturday's game is set for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch and will be streamed live on ESPNU. The series finale will begin Sunday at 5 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on the SEC Network.
The series is the designated Strike Out Hunger weekend. Fans are encouraged to donate nonperishable food products in one of the multiple food bins found around the park. For a full list of most-needed items, be sure to check the gameday guide. Fans will receive a complimentary coupon for Burger Fi (Friday), Hardees (Saturday) or Momma Goldberg's (Sunday). Coupons are given one per person per game, not based on the amount donated.
This weekend's series features post-game autographs following all three games plus postgame fireworks after Friday's game. In celebration of Saint Patrick's Day on Saturday, fans can arrive early for free green Auburn Softball hats and buttons. Sunday is Jimmy Buffett day. Fans can arrive early for free flip flops and leis.
As a reminder, parking at the Old Track Lot will not be available for Friday's game. Full details can be found in the gameday guide.
Auburn and Alabama have met 65 times with the Crimson Tide holding a 45-20 advantage including an 18-8 mark in games played in Auburn. Despite the overall record, Auburn has been on a surge as of late winning five of the last six meetings including a 2-1 series win at Tuscaloosa last season, the first time Auburn has won a series there in program history.
Victoria Draper (.494) and Taylon Snow (.436) enter the series boasting batting clips higher than .400. Draper continues to lead the nation in stolen bases with 31, just two shy of the school record of 33 set by Shannon Anderson in 2004.
Alabama is led by Patrick Murphy and enters the weekend at 18-5. This will be the Tide's SEC opener.
Quick Hitters
- A win by Auburn would give the Tigers their seventh win in the last eight meetings over the Crimson Tide. It would also be Mickey Dean's first SEC win at Auburn.
- Mickey Dean reached the 500 career wins mark during the Wilson/DeMarini Classic (503-177). He is off to one of the best starts in school history, leading the Tigers to a 25-5 start. His 15-straight wins to begin the season are the most in SEC history among first-year head coaches.
- Auburn's 17 shutouts this season are already tied for the fifth-most in program history.
- Victoria Draper leads the team in BA (.494), hits (38), runs scored (30), on base percentage (.610) and of course stolen bases. She has single-handedly eclipsed Auburn's entire stolen base total from last season (28-of-34)
- Kaylee Carlson is tied for 5th nationally with 12 wins on the season. Her 0.57 ERA ranks 5th in the SEC and 11th nationally.