AUBURN, Ala. – Kicking off the last half of its Southeastern Conference slate, Auburn softball (22-14, 0-12 SEC) travels to John Cropp Stadium to face Kentucky (22-15, 5-7 SEC) in the Tigers’ third road series of the season.
“We got to keep fighting,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “When we score runs, we got to keep piling on. Our goal is to play one pitch at a time. We look to play complete games this weekend.”
The series opens on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT. Dave Baker and Jenny Dalton-Hill will have coverage on the SEC Network+. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network with Sunday’s finale airing on ESPNU at 11 a.m. CT. Dalton-Hill and Pam Ward will be in the booth for the final two games of the series.
JJ Jackson will have radio coverage live from Lexington for all three games on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network.
With inclement weather in the forecast, fans are encouraged to check Auburn softball’s social media accounts for any schedule changes or delays.
Auburn holds a 20-game advantage in the all-time series with a 45-25 overall record, but the Wildcats have cut into that as of late by winning six of the last 10 meetings with the help of series wins in 2024 and 2022. The series is tied at 17 games apiece in games contested in Lexington. Auburn is searching for its first road series win over the Wildcats since sweeping Kentucky in 2016.
Kentucky enters the weekend coming off an 8-3 midweek victory at Louisville on Wednesday. The Wildcats are currently 12th in the SEC standings with their 5-7 record, which includes series wins over Missouri and Ole Miss. Kentucky has been swept in its two road series at LSU and at Arkansas.
Peyton Plotts leads Kentucky with a .372 batting average. She’s scored 27 runs and has totaled 35 RBI. Plotts has added 20 extra-base hits and slugs at a .673 clip. She ranks third in the SEC in total doubles (12). As a pitching staff, the Wildcats hold a 3.26 earned run average. Sarah Haendiges anchors the staff with a 2.30 ERA and an 8-3 overall record. She’s also added three saves this season. Haendiges leads Kentucky with 72 strikeouts. She averages 7.5 strikeouts per seven innings, which ranks 14th in the league.
The Tigers had a break from midweek action and are looking to return to the win column after being swept at Jane B. Moore Field by No. 4 Florida last weekend. Auburn is still searching for its first SEC win of the season.
AnnaLea Adams continues to shine in her freshman campaign. In Auburn’s last 24 games, Adams is hitting .455 at the plate behind 30 hits, which includes six doubles and five home runs for a .773 slugging percentage. She has also added 17 RBI during this stretch.
Despite not playing in nine of Auburn’s 36 games, the freshman still ranks in the top five on the team in hits (31), RBI (20), total bases (55), doubles (6) and home runs (6). She enters the weekend ranked 11th in the SEC in the batting average (.437) and 18th in slugging percentage (.775).
At the plate, Auburn has matched 93 percent of its 2024 home run total of 45 as the Tigers have slugged 42 home runs through the first 36 games, ranking ninth in the SEC for total home runs. Anna Wohlers and Icess Tresvik are tied for 24th in the league with eight home runs each. Wohlers also leads the team with 26 RBI heading into the weekend.
The pair join Nelia Peralta as returning starters that have surpassed their 2024 home run totals while Abbey Smith, Rose Roach and Kylie Brockman have all hit the first home runs of their respective careers.
SJ Geurin is tied for second in the SEC and fifth nationally with her 15 wins in the circle. Geurin has been directly involved in 19 of Auburn’s 22 victories by either recording the win or the save. She leads Auburn with a 2.97 earned run average and 65 strikeouts.
Auburn boasts the toughest schedule in the country as its opponents hold a .694 winning percentage entering the weekend. The Tigers are also one of 14 teams nationally to have 10 or more wins over top 50 RPI teams.