No. 17 Auburn hosts Troy in first midweek test of the season

In the first midweek contest of the season, No. 17 Auburn softball (19-1) readies to host in-state foe Troy (12-8) Wednesday for Mardi Gras at Jane B. Moore Field.

No. 17 Auburn hosts Troy in first midweek test of the seasonNo. 17 Auburn hosts Troy in first midweek test of the season
David Gray/Auburn Tigers
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Auburn vs. Troy

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AUBURN, Ala. – In the first midweek contest of the season, No. 17 Auburn softball (19-1) readies to host in-state foe Troy (12-8) Wednesday for Mardi Gras at Jane B. Moore Field.

“We want to be aggressive and competitive coming into Wednesday,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “We can refocus, re-lock in. It’s a different feel with a midweek. We’ve got just one game to worry about. We need to make sure we’re getting after it out the gate and not look too far ahead at what’s coming this weekend.” 

First pitch on the SEC Network+ is set for 6 p.m. CT. Graham Doty & JJ Jackson will have the call. Radio coverage is also available on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network. Jacob Hillman will have play-by-play coverage.

The Tigers are celebrating Mardi Gras at Jane B. Moore Field. Masks, beads and king cake will be available while supplies last. The Crew de Tigres will be in attendance with a pair of floats for its annual Mardi Gras parade. 

It’s also Diamond Deals Day as fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs and $5 domestic brews at every midweek at Jane B. Moore Field this season. 

Auburn has won 13 of the least 14 meetings versus the Trojans, including 12 consecutive wins. The lone non-win in the stretch was a tie in 2014. 

Troy enters the weekend after a 3-2 weekend in Gainesville, Florida, hosted by the No. 3 Gators. The Trojans earned wins over Western Michigan and Florida A&M but dropped games to both Samford and Florida. 

The duo of McKinnon Howard and Cassidy Boltz lead the Trojans at the plate. Howard holds a .543 average behind 19 hits, 10 runs scored and has added four RBI. Boltz bats at a .442 clip. She has totaled 23 hits with 15 RBI. Dangerous on the bath paths, Troy has stolen 39 bases on 40 attempts as a team. 

Alyssa Faircloth has handled the bulk of the load for the Trojans in the circle. She’s posted a 5-2 record behind a 2.81 earned run average. She struck out 60 thus far this season. 

Auburn enters the weekend on an eight-game win streak after sweeping the competition at the Jane B. Moore Memorial. The midweek test with the Trojans is Auburn’s last non-conference contest ahead of the start of SEC play. 

With three wins and a pair of saves, SJ Geurin was involved in all five wins over the weekend. She improved to 12-0 this season and leads the country in victories. She is the only Tiger pitcher to record 12 or more wins through the first 20 games of the season. Geurin ranks 11th in the SEC with her 1.11 earned run average and has been involved in 16 of Auburn’s 19 victories by either recording the win or a save. 

Earning her way into the lineup, AnnaLea Adams has recorded a hit in 10 of her last 15 at bats, including two doubles and two home runs. She has added seven RBI during her hot streak. Abbey Smith enters the midweek on a seven-game hit streak. She leads the team with a .429 batting average and has recorded a hit in 17 of Auburn’s 20 contests.

Anna Wohlers and Icess Tresvik have combined for almost half of Auburn’s 26 home runs this season. The duo rank tied for ninth in the SEC with six home runs each. Wohlers has homered in four of Auburn’s last six games.