AUBURN, Ala. – After sweeping Texas A&M to open Southeastern Conference play, No. 19 Auburn softball (24-1, 3-0 SEC) puts its 16-game win streak on the line in its next conference test: a three-games series at Jane B. Moore Field against South Carolina (17-8, 1-2 SEC).
"South Carolina is a competitive team," said head coach Mickey Dean. "They swing it well and are able to produce runs. They have good pitching and a lot of options in the circle, so they can mix it up. We must find a way to limit those scoring opportunities and keep people off the bases. We need to stand aggressive offensively to push their defense."
The series opens on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. Brit Bowen and Auburn softball alumna Amy Reif will have the call. Fans in attendance will receive a free Auburn softball shamrock shirt while supplies lasts.
The final two games of the series will receive national attention with television broadcasts on the SEC Network. Kevin Brown and Amanda Scarborough will be on the call for both games.
Saturday is Military Appreciate Night at Jane B. Moore Field as fans will receive an American flag tumbler while supplies lasts. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT. Monday's finale is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night at the ballpark. Faculty and staff can access a special discount code for tickets to Monday's contest.
Fans can also hear all three games of the series on the Auburn Sports Network.
LEADING OFF
- Welcoming the Gamecocks to Jane B. Moore Field for its second conference series of the season, Auburn is searching for its first home series win over South Carolina since 2016.
- With a win in Saturday's series opener against South Carolina, Auburn will be off to its best start in program history, surpassing the 2015 squad. That season Auburn began the season 24-1 before suffering a 3-2 loss to Cal State Fullerton.
- Auburn's 36 home runs through the first 25 games are the most by a Tiger team since 2019. The Tigers also knocked 36 homers through 25 contests.
- With its sweep of Texas A&M, Auburn recorded its first SEC series sweep since 2019. Auburn also opened the 2019 SEC season with a home sweep of the Aggies.
- Standing at 29-for-31 in career stolen base attempts, sophomore Makayla Packer enters the weekend series 12th in program history for career stolen bases.
- Auburn is the only program in the SEC to have a pitching staff combine for over 200 strikeouts this season as the Tigers lead the league with 246. Maddie Penta leads the SEC with 130 strikeouts, a mark that stands fifth in the country.
- During its 16-game winning streak, Auburn has outscored its opponents by a mark of 109 to 23. During its win streak, Auburn has recorded five run-rule victories and six shutouts.
- Maddie Penta shattered the program record for consecutive winning decisions with a nine-game streak from Feb. 27 to March 13, 2022. Penta leads the SEC with total wins as she stands 15-0.
- Auburn's 16-game win streak is currently the second longest active win streak in the country behind only Oklahoma's streak of 22 games.
- Boasting one of the most disciplined pitching staffs in terms of free passes, Auburn leads the SEC and ranks third nationally with a team strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.24.
ON DECK
In its first conference road test of the season, Auburn treks to No. 8 Kentucky for a three-game series in Lexington. The series opens on Friday at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.