AUBURN, Ala. – Opening Day on The Plains arrives in 24 hours as No. 20/19 Auburn softball prepares for a tough test to open the 2024 season, welcoming Virginia Tech, Belmont and Illinois to Jane B. Moore Field for the Tiger Invite.
"Out of our first nine games, we'll play five ranked opponents," head coach Mickey Dean said. "We wanted to have an early test. We feel that we have a strong team in all areas, but we really need to see who we are and where we are in the beginning so we can work on those areas ahead of SEC play. That was the idea behind our schedule."
A top-25 battle awaits the Tigers in their first contest of the season when Auburn faces No. 23 Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. CT on Friday. Auburn is facing the Hokies for the first time in over a decade, and it marks the first time Auburn has opened a season with a top-25 opponent since taking down No. 1 Oklahoma in 2017.
The first 100 fans at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday will receive a free Opening Day on The Plains travel blanket while the first 100 students in attendance will receive a free Chick-fil-a sandwich.
Auburn rounds out opening day at 4 p.m. CT versus Belmont with the Bruins making a return trip to the Plains for the first time since 2011.
Saturday features a rematch with the Hokies at 1 p.m. CT before Auburn faces Illinois at 4 p.m. CT. The Tigers battled Illinois as part of the NFCA Kickoff Classic during opening weekend a season ago. Auburn topped the Fighting Illini in five innings with a 10-0 win.
The first 100 fans to arrive at Jane B. Moore Field on Saturday will receive a Tiger Invite collectible pennant.
Sunday's finale versus Belmont is set for 2 p.m. CT.
Saturday and Sunday's contests will air on the SEC Network+ with JJ Jackson and Auburn softball alumna Amy Reif on the call. Fans can hear all five games over opening weekend on WEGL 91.1 FM. Brit Bowen and Jacob Hillman will split radio coverage.
"We've had great energy at practice the last couple weeks," Dean said. "You can tell we are getting to the point where we really want to play someone other than ourselves in scrimmages. We're hungry."
Auburn holds a 22-4-1 record in season openers, winning nine of its last 10. Auburn last hosted the Tiger Invite to open a season in 2022. Behind four run-rule victories, Auburn went undefeated and outscored opponents 50 to 4 that weekend.
The Tigers are led by All-American and reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Maddie Penta, who is returning for her final collegiate season. Penta is returning to Jane B. Moore Field after posting an undefeated home record in 2023. After finishing second in the nation in strikeouts last season with 303, Penta begins her senior campaign looking to be the first Tiger in program history to record three consecutive seasons with 250 or more strikeouts.
The heart of Auburn's offense last season and preseason All-SEC honoree, Nelia Peralta will be the veteran of the Tiger lineup. Peralta led Auburn in batting average, hits, runs scored and walks a season ago. Auburn's lineup also added a pair of transfers in Amelia Lech (Maryland) and Anna Wohlers (DePaul). The pair combined for 28 home runs and 85 RBI in 2023.
A group of five true freshmen are also looking to make their debuts over opening weekend with the additions of Chalea Clemmons, Thalia Martin, Mariah Penta, Kyla Stroud and Malayna Tamborra.
Tamborra and Clemmons joins Auburn's loaded pitching staff that is returning every member from last season including sophomore Emmah Rolfe, who is coming off an outstanding fall season in which she did not allow a run to score.