AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to the friendly confines of Jane B. Moore Field for the final non-conference tournament of the regular season, Auburn softball (9-7) welcomes Georgia Southern, No. 18 Minnesota and Binghamton to the Plains for the 2020 Tiger Invitational.
"It's a good field coming into town," head coach Mickey Dean said. "Minnesota went to the Women's College World Series last year and are ranked in the top 25. They have tremendous pitching. Georgia Southern has been hitting the ball extremely well. Binghamton has always been a strong hitting team. I've played them several times in regionals. We get to play at home. We get to sleep in our own beds. We have to control the flow of the game in our own yard."
Auburn opens the tournament on Friday against Georgia Southern at 3:30 p.m. CT before facing the ranked Golden Gophers at 6 p.m. CT. The matchup will mark Auburn's fifth game against a ranked opponent over the last seven contests. The Tigers open Saturday against Minnesota at 3:30 p.m. CT before the program's first-ever meeting against Binghamton at 6 p.m. CT.
The Tigers round out the weekend with another doubleheader slate on Sunday, taking on Binghamton at 11:30 a.m. CT and rounding out the weekend against Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. CT.
Friday's tournament opener will be streamed on the SEC Network+ with JJ Jackson and three-time All-American and Auburn softball alum Kasey Cooper will have the call. Cooper will be joined by Brit Bowen for Friday's nightcap contest and Saturday's doubleheader slate. All three contests will be on the SEC Network+.
Fans can also stream the radio broadcast for all six games of the Tiger Invitational via the Auburn Sports Network.
PARKING INFORMATION
Fans attending softball Friday should park on Biggio Drive by the intramural fields and the McWhorter Center lot. The gravel lot at Jane B. Moore Field is for reserved for softball ticketholders and will be staffed.
LEADING OFF
- Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field for its final non-conference tournament of the regular season, hosting Georgia Southern, Binghamton and No. 18 Minnesota for the Tiger Invitational.
- Minnesota will be Auburn's fifth ranked opponent of the 2020 season. The Tigers are currently 1-3 against ranked squads this season.
- With an average home attendance of 1,585, Auburn boasts the third-highest average home attendance in the country, trailing only behind Arizona (2,061) and Alabama (3,465).
- Coming from behind twice against No. 25 Northwestern, Auburn recorded its fourth comeback victory of the 2020 season. Auburn's largest come-from-behind win came on Feb. 14, knocking off UNCW, 8-7, after trailing by seven.
- Tallying a team-high five hits in her home state of California, Tannon Snow led Auburn at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a .455 average. She is now just one hit shy of recording her 100th in an Auburn uniform.
- With just one strikeout in over 44 at-bats, junior Makenna Dowell ranks as the second toughest player in the Southeastern Conference to strike out this season.
- Senior Alyssa Rivera slugged her team-leading third home run of the season against No. 1 UCLA (Feb. 23). With 25 career home runs, she is just three shy from cracking Auburn's career top 10 list.
- Carrying the bulk in the circle, Ashlee Swindle has had a strong start to her senior campaign. She currently ranks fifth in the Southeastern Conference with her team-leading five victories.
- In her first full season behind the plate for the Tigers, Abby Tissier has shown off her cannon. The junior is currently ranked tied for second in the SEC after throwing out four would-be base stealers. Tissier also holds a perfect fielding percentage behind the dish.
ON DECK
Auburn begins a six-game road swing on Wednesday, March 4 with a doubleheader against Mercer, the final tune-up before the start of Southeastern Conference play. First pitch from Macon, Ga., is set for 4 p.m. CT.