California Dreaming: Auburn softball readies for Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

With a gauntlet test of three ranked opponents on the slate, Auburn softball (9-2) heads to the West Coast to compete in the elite Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California.

California Dreaming: Auburn softball readies for Mary Nutter Collegiate ClassicCalifornia Dreaming: Auburn softball readies for Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
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AUBURN, Ala. – With a gauntlet test of three ranked opponents on the slate, Auburn softball (9-2) heads to the West Coast to compete in the elite Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California.

“This is one of the two big tournaments of the preseason,” said co-head coach Kate Malveaux. “There are a couple reasons why we decided to play in this tournament. It’s for the level of competition. We had a good showing at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and a great weekend at home. We’re firing on more cylinders, so now let’s go test the team again. We’re going to play two World Series teams back-to-back and get a feel for what postseason might be like. You don’t want to get into conference play or the postseason without having that experience. We also get to reach a different base of people that you’re not normally exposed to and get to spread your footprint to different areas of the country.”

The Tigers have six games on the docket in Cathedral City. It starts Thursday with back-to-back games against ranked Big Ten foes that both competed in the 2025 Women’s College World Series as Auburn takes on No. 14 Oregon (5-4) and No. 9 UCLA (7-3), beginning at 12 p.m. CT.

It will be “Auburn Softball After Dark” on Friday as the Tigers take on BYU (1-8) at 10 p.m. CT. Saturday features another twin billing with Auburn battling No. 21 Washington (7-3), Auburn’s sixth Big Ten opponent of the season, and Cal State Fullerton (4-6). Saturday’s slate begins at 2 p.m. CT. Sunday’s finale versus California (4-6) is slated for an 11 a.m. CT start.

Auburn is making its third overall appearance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, previously competing in the tournament in both 2020 and 2018.  Auburn holds a 4-6 overall record at the tournament.  

FloSoftball is streaming every game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. A paid subscription is required for viewing. JJ Jackson will have the radio call live from Cathedral City. Fans can listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM or can stream the radio call on the Auburn Tigers website or mobile app.

Auburn is coming off an electric Opening Weekend on the Plains, recording five consecutive run-rule victories for the first time since 2017 to cap a 5-0 performance at the War Eagle Classic. Auburn’s offense outscored opponents 57 to 12. The Tigers totaled 28 extra-base hits to slug at a .911 team clip over the tournament.

Sophomore Kylie Shaw and senior Destiny Rodriguez are pacing the Tiger offense. The duo has both recorded multiple hits in eight of Auburn’s 11 contests.

Shaw holds a .514 batting average and ranks fifth nationally with 19 hits. She also ranks 10th in the nation with 16 runs scored. Transferring to Auburn with just five career home runs, Rodriguez leads the team with four through 11 games. Her 18 hits rank 14th in the country. She also ranks 16th nationally with her team-leading 17 RBI.

In the circle, it’s the duo of sophomore Ella Harrison and junior SJ Geurin that leads the pitching staff.

Harrison improved to 4-0 as an Auburn Tigers and has struck out at least five in her last four outings. She ranks third in the league with 34 strikeouts and averages 9.2 strikeouts per seven innings. Her four victories are seventh most in the SEC. She holds a 1.88 earned run average after two weeks of the season.

Geurin (2-1) has also been steady in the circle, earning her 25th victory in an Auburn uniform on Saturday. She has struck out 13 over her four appearances and holds a 2.53 ERA.

BACK AT HOME

Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field to host the Jane B. Moore Memorial on Feb. 26 to March 1. Troy, No. 17 Virginia Tech and USC Upstate complete the tournament field. The Tigers are slated to compete in six games over four days. Auburn will celebrate Aubie’s birthday on Feb. 28 with a pregame party for Aubie’s Kids Club members. Sunday will feature “Softballs from the Sky” as a helicopter will drop foam softballs on the field for kids ages four to 15.