AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Southeastern Conference play with a tough test at Tiger Park, Auburn softball (21-12-1) readies for a three-game series versus No. 6 LSU (32-6, 9-6 SEC).
"We're going to keep working on getting into a rhythm," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We're going to watch some film. They are a good team. It's tough to play on the road. We have to make sure that we are composed and playing within ourselves, and we'll be just fine."
Auburn opens the series on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday is the SEC's annual All for Alex game as teams across the conference will go teal to bring awareness to ovarian cancer in honor of late Mississippi State softball student-athlete Alex Wilcox. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT.
All three games are available on the SEC Network+. Brit Bowen will have the radio call this weekend on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network.
Auburn trails in the all-time series 23-55 and holds an 8-25 record in games played in LSU. After taking two games to clinch the series at Jane B. Moore Field last season, Auburn is looking to win back-to-back series over LSU for the first time since the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Auburn's last series win at Tiger Park came in 2015.
LSU stands fourth in the SEC standings with its 9-6 record. Last weekend, the Bayou Bengals dropped their SEC series at No. 10 Florida after falling in extra innings in Monday's rubber game. LSU is coming off an extra-inning midweek win over Southeastern Louisiana.
Winning six of its last seven games, Auburn softball looks to keep the momentum rolling into the weekend as the Tigers are searching for their first SEC series win of the season. Over its last six games, Auburn offense is averaging 7.3 runs per game well above its season average of 4.7.
Icess Tresvik brings a five-game hit streak into the weekend as she now stands second on the team with a .316 batting average. Over the last five games, Tresvik has totaled eight hits, seven runs and eight RBI. Sneaky on the bases, Tresvik stands fifth in the SEC in total stolen bases as she currently stands 14-for-16.
Combining with Shelby Lowe for a no-hitter in Wednesday's midweek win over UAB, Maddie Penta has been virtually untouchable in the circle as of late. In her last four starts, she has allowed just one earned run in 20.0 innings while striking out 34 batters. Penta enters the weekend series ranked second in the country in strikeouts (172) and third in shutouts (7). Her 1.59 season earned run average ranks fifth in the SEC.