BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn's softball team is selected to finish ninth in the Southeastern Conference for the 2019 season, the conference office announced on Wednesday morning.
Auburn earned 69 points after concluding the 2018 season with a 41-17 record, including an 11-12 mark in SEC play. In Mickey Dean's first season at the helm, Auburn reached the postseason for a 14th time in program history as well as advancing to the SEC Tournament for an 18th time since 1997.
Despite losing Kaylee Carlson from the pitching circle, the Tigers return Makayla Martin, who concluded her junior season in 2018 with a 1.36 ERA — the second-lowest in program history. Martin's 1.21 ERA in league play was good enough for second among SEC pitchers.
Taylon Snow, who was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team a year ago, returns for Auburn in 2019. Snow batted .325 for the season in 47 in just her first year at the collegiate level. Casey McCrackin will flank Snow in the middle of the diamond as the Cantonment, Fla., native returns for her senior season. McCrackin led the Tigers with a .318 batting average in 23 league games in 2018.
The 2018 season begins for Auburn on Feb. 8 when the Tigers travel to Gulf Shores to play Tennessee State and Western Kentucky as part of the Sand Dollar Classic. Auburn will open its home schedule against UAB on Feb. 14 in the Plainsman Invitational.
SEC play begins for Auburn on Mar. 15 when the Tigers host Texas A&M for a three-game series. The 2019 SEC Softball Tournament will take place May 8-11 at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas.
Florida, the defending SEC champion, picked up 10 of the 13 available first-place votes to be selected as the preseason favorite. Georgia (2) and Kentucky (1) garnered the remaining first-place votes. Florida (142), Georgia (130) and Tennessee (108) are predicted to finish 1-2-3, respectively, based on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 format.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
2019 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Florida (10) 142
2. Georgia (2) 130
3. Tennessee 108
4. South Carolina 105
5. Arkansas 97
6. LSU 85
7. Kentucky (1)
8. Alabama 80
9. Auburn 69
10. Mississippi State 40
11. Texas A&M 32
12. Ole Miss 30
13. Missouri 15
First-place votes in parentheses