AUBURN, Ala. – As the Tigers celebrate the past as part of the program's 25th anniversary, Auburn softball is set to begin its newest chapter behind a young but talented roster. The first test comes this weekend as Auburn opens the 2022 season with a five-game slate at Jane B. Moore Field as part of the Tiger Invitational.
"I'm looking for our team to support each other and bring the energy," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We're expecting them to make the routine plays and growing comfortable and gaining confidence in their at-bats."
Auburn opens its season versus Seton Hall on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT. The Tigers return to the field at 5 p.m. CT to face St. John's. Friday's doubleheader will be available on SEC Network+.
Saturday's schedule is flipped with Auburn facing St. John's at 2:30 p.m. CT before battling Seton Hall at 5 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is set for 12:30 p.m. CT as Auburn faces UMass Lowell.
"St. John's and Seton Hall both play in the Big East," Dean said. "They normally swing the bats really well, simply because that's the one thing that they can focus on early in the season. They both are bringing in transfer pitchers to sure up their staffs. UMass Lowell is a team that's gotten a little bit better every year. They have a couple kids that can really smash it. We'll have our hands full, so it will be a great early test."
All five of Auburn's contests can be heard on the Auburn Sports Network.
"This is the most excited I've been for a season," said senior catcher Aspyn Godwin. "Our team has a lot of different strengths and several strong bats. I'm really excited to see it."
LEADING OFF
- Coming off the program's seventh straight NCAA Regional appearance in 2021, Auburn softball returns to the diamond with a roster full of talented underclassmen, including four members of the 2021 SEC All-Freshman team returning for their sophomore seasons (Shelby Lowe, Sydney Cox, Maddie Penta, Makayla Packer).
- Auburn holds a 20-4-1 record in season openers and has won seven of its last eight. Auburn is facing its season-opening opponent Seton Hall for the first time in program history.
- Throughout the 2022 season, Auburn softball is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1997 inaugural season. With a road sweep of Samford on Feb. 18, 1997, the Tigers ushered in Division I fastpitch softball to the Plains.
- Nearing a major program milestone to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the program's inaugural season, Auburn is just 10 wins shy of recording its 900th victory in program history.
- The Tigers will rely on the strength of its pitching, returning four of its five members of the 2021 staff. Auburn held the fourth lowest ERA in the Southeastern Conference last season at 2.03.
- Shelby Lowe returns to the circle for her sophomore campaign after an historic debut in 2021. Lowe became the only Auburn freshman pitcher to ever earn All-SEC honors after she finished top 10 in the league in five individual pitching categories, including earned run average and strikeouts.
- Closing her debut season a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen base attempts, Makayla Packer set Auburn's single-season record for highest stolen base percentage (min. 15 attempts). Packer needs just 15 stolen bases in 2022 to crack the top 10 in Auburn career history as a sophomore.
ON DECK
A pair of top-10 opponents await the Tigers as Auburn travels to Clearwater, Florida, to compete in the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational Presented by Wilson. Auburn opens the tournament on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. CT against Texas Tech on the SEC Network. The Tigers are also scheduled to face Wisconsin, No. 10 Texas, No. 3 UCLA and USF during the tournament.