AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn softball team will open its 2019 fall exhibition schedule with a doubleheader against Gulf Coast State College on Sunday. The two teams will start the afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. first pitch, before playing a second game after a 30-minute intermission.
Dean and his staff will begin their fall slate of games with 14 new faces, including nine freshmen, four transfers and one sophomore addition.
"This weekend is really an opportunity for our players to show what they can do against someone besides a teammate," head coach Mickey Dean said. "It gives us an opportunity to look at some combinations of things that we want to see."
Six seniors will be the cornerstone for this season's squad with Tannon Snow and Justus Perry anchoring the corner infield positions with Alyssa Rivera roaming the outfield. Ashlee Swindle returns to the pitching circle whereas Brittany Maresette and Rachel Cook will add productivity on the bases.
Snow and Perry are coming off 60-game junior seasons, while Swindle, who led the team with 132.1 innings pitched a season ago, was 11-8 with a 2.96 ERA in the pitching circle.
"I think where our seniors can really help is the communication part," Dean said. "And making sure players don't feel like they're on an island and helping them with off-the-field stuff and those types of things."
Admission to all home fall games is free to the public. Concessions will also be available. There will be an autograph session for fans following the conclusion of Sunday's second game.
Before facing GCSC on Sunday, Auburn will host an intersquad scrimmage Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.