AUBURN, Ala. – With just three games remaining in the fall exhibition slate, Auburn softball prepares for its first out-of-state trip and its final scheduled doubleheader as the Tigers trek to Panama City, Florida, this weekend for a pair of games at Gulf Coast State.
Sunday's twin billing begins at 10 a.m. CT against Pearl River Community College before taking on the host Commodores at 12:30 p.m. CT.
"We're doing something different for this fall weekend," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We're turning the first part of our trip into a second team retreat to continue to build our team chemistry. By leaving on Friday afternoon, we'll spend Saturday coming together as a team to set goals for the spring season and then continue to push ourselves physically on the field in Sunday's games."
The Tigers are coming off their fourth victory of the fall after defeating Alabama State 18-0 in a scheduled 10-inning game last Sunday. Auburn totaled 17 hits in the contest, including seven doubles. All four of Auburn's fall victories have come via shutouts.
At the midway point of the fall season, Lindsey Garcia leads the team with a .600 average. The senior has totaled six hits, including a pair of doubles, with two runs scored and three RBI.
Annabelle Widra is tied with Garcia in RBI production with three but leads the team with a 1.091 slugging mark. Of he six hits, four have gone for extra bases as the junior has knocked three doubles and a home run.
Sophomore Abbey Smith has also turned in a solid performance at the plate with three hits, including a double. The speedster has scored a team leading seven runs and is a perfect 4-for-4 in steal attempts.
Not allowing an earned run through the first five games of the fall, Auburn's pitching staff has combined for four shutouts, holding opponents to a .098 average at the plate. Last weekend, the Tigers limited Alabama State to a lone hit through 10 innings.
Maddie Penta (2-0) has the slightest edge in innings pitch as she leads the staff with 12.0. The junior has allowed just four hits, holding opponents to a .095 average. The right-hander has been efficient in the circle with 26 strikeouts compare to just one walk.
Widra and freshman Emmah Rolfe both has tossed 11.0 innings throughout their fall appearances. Rolfe has fanned 18 batters and has scattered four hits throughout her four appearances. Widra has the lowest batting average against on the squad with a .088 mark. The transfer from Michigan has struck out 17.
This weekend's doubleheader will not be streamed, but fans can stay updated through the Auburn softball Twitter account: @AuburnSoftball. Auburn concludes its fall slate on Sunday, October 23, in Montgomery, Alabama, with a single contest against Auburn University at Montgomery.
