AUBURN, Ala. – For the eighth consecutive year, No. 17 Auburn softball begins its journey on the Road to Oklahoma City as the Tigers open the 2022 NCAA Tournament against Louisiana in the Clemson Regional Friday at McWhorter Stadium.
Earning the two seed in the Clemson Regional, Auburn (39-15) will face three-seeded Louisiana (45-11) in the opening round of the Clemson Regional. First pitch on ESPN+ is set for 1:30 p.m. CT. Regional host Clemson (39-15), who earned the 10th national seed in the tournament, will open Friday's action against UNCW (32-13) at 11 a.m. CT on the ACC Network.
"It is going to be all about defense this weekend," said head coach Mickey Dean. "There's great offense and pitching in this regional. The first thing that has to happen to win this regional is strong defense. Then you are going to have great command of your pitches in the circle, especially with location and spin, because we are facing some strong hitting teams."
The two winning teams advance into the winner's bracket and will face off Saturday at 12 p.m. CT to secure a spot in Sunday's regional championship. The two losing squads will compete in the first of two elimination games scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT. TV networks for Saturday's lineup will be announced.
Jenn Hildreth and Carol Bruggeman will have broadcast coverage for every game of the Clemson Regional. Fans can also hear radio coverage on the Auburn Sports Network as Brit Bowen and JJ Jackson will have coverage from McWhorter Stadium.
Auburn is making its 17th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and holds a 33-34 record in the tournament. This weekend marks the first time in the tournament's history that Clemson has hosted a regional.
The Tigers have never met Clemson on the softball field. Auburn has history with both UNCW and Louisiana, but next weekend will mark the first time in program history the Tigers have tangled with either team at an NCAA Regional.
The Tigers are 2-1 all-time against Louisiana. Auburn is meeting the Ragin' Cajuns for the first time since the 2015 Auburn Super Regional. The Tigers two a pair of games to advance to the program's first Women's College World Series. Auburn is a perfect 5-0 against UNCW. The two teams last met in as the Tigers swept three games against the Seahawks, including two via the run rule.
LEADING OFF
- For the 17th time in program history, Auburn softball readies for the postseason with an NCAA regional berth. Auburn holds a 22-26 (458) record in regional action and is looking to advance to Super Regionals for the first time since 2017.
- Honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year, Bri Ellis is just the second Tiger to win the award, joining Sara Dean (2002). Dean was a co-winner with Florida's Many Schuerman, making Ellis the program's first outright winner of the award.
- Surpassing Holly Currie (2005) for the program's record for most strikeouts by a Tiger sophomore, Maddie Penta stands sixth overall in Auburn single-season history with 258 strikeouts. Her strikeout total is the second most in the SEC. Penta also stands sixth in school history with 363 career strikeouts.
- Behind 12 different Tigers going yard this season, Auburn has totaled 84 home runs in 2022, the third most in a single season in program history.
- For the first time in program history, Auburn has two freshman players with at least 10 home runs in the same season as Nelia Peralta has joined Bri Ellis in double-digit homers. Jessie Blaine is one home run shy of joining the duo.
- Forty of Auburn's 84 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 winner of the Clemson Regional will face the winner of the Stillwater Regional, which features seventh-seeded Oklahoma State, Fordham, Nebraska and North Texas. NCAA Super Regionals are scheduled to begin Friday, May 27.