AUBURN, Ala. – Coming off a dominate win against Gulf Coast State College last weekend, the Auburn softball team is set to host four more exhibition games this weekend at Jane B. Moore Field.
Beginning Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., Auburn will face off against Pensacola State, before playing Snead State at 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Tigers will play Chipola College (1:30 p.m.) and Wallace State CC – Hanceville (4:00 p.m.).
"We actually set it up that way (to play four games in two days) just to get them used to playing like a tournament," said head coach Mickey Dean. "This will give everyone an opportunity to figure out where their bodies are physically and mentally and what more they need to work on.
"It's tough — mentally and physically — to play four games, but it's not like we won't have to do that (during the season) because we are."
After five different pitchers threw a pre-determined 12.0 innings against GCSC last Sunday, pitching, again, will be a focus for Dean and his staff heading into this weekend's set of doubleheaders.
Against the Commodores, Ashlee Swindle and Lexie Handley both threw 3.0 innings apiece, while newcomers Bailee Dempsey, Samantha Yarbrough and Hannah Cavanaugh threw 2.0 innings each. Swindle, Dempsey, Yarbrough and Handley all struck out at least one batter, while Cavanaugh retired all six batters she faced.
"I want to see where our pitchers are, to be quite honest," Dean said. "I want to see their endurance and how they're able to maintain themselves throughout the weekend.
"When they're throwing only two or three innings and that's it for the weekend, now how are they going to handle four games. So, this weekend will give us a better understanding of their endurance in the circle."
A post-game autograph session on the concourse will follow the final game of both days.
Admission to all home fall games will be free to the public. There will be limited concessions serving bottled beverages, assorted candy and snacks.