AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Southeastern Conference action, No. 18 Auburn softball (34-9, 7-8) trek to Starkville for a crucial three-game series at Mississippi State (28-17, 7-8 SEC) at Nusz Park.
"We're heading into the final stretch of the season," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We've used these last few nonconference games to tune up on the little things we need to correct before these next three SEC series. The message to the team is that the opportunity is in front of us, and we have to step up a seize that opportunity."
The series opens on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Saturday's contest will also air on the SEC Network with a 4 p.m. CT first pitch. Kayla Braud and Tiffany Greene will be on the air for both contests. Sunday's finale is set for 12 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.
JJ Jackson will have radio coverage of all three contests of the series on the Auburn Sports Network.
LEADING OFF
- Returning to Southeastern Conference action, Auburn treks to Starkville to face Mississippi State in a three-game series. Auburn has won the last seven series meetings, dating back to 2011.
- With a pair of midweek victories, Maddie Penta brought her season win total to 21. She is now tied for the seventh most wins by an Auburn pitcher in a single season. Penta leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally in victories.
- Behind its shutout victory at Mercer, Auburn secured its 30th win of the 2022 season. This marks Auburn's first 30-win series since 2019.
- Hitting a home run in her last four of her last six starts, Bri Ellis is just three away from shattering Kasey Cooper's freshman home run record of 18. Ellis currently stands 10th overall in Auburn single-season history with her 16 home runs.
- Behind her seven strikeouts versus Chattanooga, Maddie Penta surpassed 200 strikeouts for her sophomore season. She is the first Tiger to hit the milestone since Anna Thompson in 2010. At 201 strikeouts, Penta holds the ninth most in a single season on the Plains.
- Standing at 32-for-35 in career stolen base attempts, sophomore Makayla Packer enters the weekend tied for ninth in program history for career stolen bases.
- Allowing just 63 earned runs in over 242 career innings pitched, Shelby Lowe ranks 25th among all active and qualifying NCAA Division I pitcher with a 1.82 career ERA.
- Making an instant impact in the starting lineup, Auburn's top three RBI producers in 2022 are all freshmen: Bri Ellis, Nelia Peralta and Jessie Blaine. The Tiger trio are the only three student-athletes on the roster to record 30+ RBI this season.
- Behind 12 different Tigers going yard this season, Auburn has totaled 74 home runs in 2022, the fourth most in a single season in program history.
- Averaging 6.77 runs per game this season, Auburn's offense as propelled the Tigers to 14 total run-rule victories in 2022. Four of Auburn's last five wins have come via run rules.
- Thirty-six of Auburn's 74 home runs in 2022 have been slugged by the Tiger freshmen class. Four Tiger freshmen have recorded multiple home runs this season with three hitting at least eight.
ON DECK
The Tigers conclude its nonconference portion of the regular season with a final midweek road test at Alabama State on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.