Auburn softball hosts Kentucky to open SEC action

Southeastern Conference play has arrived on the Plains as Auburn softball (17-6) hosts Kentucky (18-4) for a three-game series at Jane B. Moore Field to open league action.

Auburn softball hosts Kentucky to open SEC actionAuburn softball hosts Kentucky to open SEC action
David Gray/Auburn Tigers
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Auburn vs. Kentucky

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AUBURN, Ala. – Southeastern Conference play has arrived on the Plains as Auburn softball (17-6) hosts Kentucky (18-4) for a three-game series at Jane B. Moore Field to open league action.

“The thing about the SEC is that every weekend is a Super Regional weekend,” said co-head coach Kate Malveaux. “We’re both going to show up and bring our best. The team that is going to give in first is the one that is not going to come out of the winning side of it. We are going to keep throwing punches and play our game. We play Oklahoma next week. If we show up to play Kentucky differently than we show up to play Oklahoma, we’re not setting ourselves up for success. Ultimately, we’re going to get back to the process of what we do and make sure we iron that out. Then we’re going to throw punches and compete our tails off.”

The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday’s contest is set for 2 p.m. CT. Sunday’s finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT.

It’s “Go Wild War Eagle Weekend” across the Plains. Fans are encouraged to attend Auburn Athletics events throughout the weekend: softball, baseball, tennis, equestrian and gymnastics. A QR code will be available at the promotions tables for fans to scan. The more events fans attend, the better chance they have at the grand prize: a YETI prize pack.

Fans will also receive “Go Wild War Eagle Weekend” branded giveaways across all three Auburn softball contests while supplies last: crossbody bag (Friday), sunglasses (Saturday) and a visor (Sunday).

All three games will be available on the SEC Network+. JJ Jackson and Auburn softball alumna Amy Reif will be on the call Friday. Jackson is joined by Mark Fuller on Saturday. Jonathon Hoppe will join Jackson in the booth Sunday.

Brit Bowen, Micah Farmer and Alex Bok will have radio coverage on WEGL 91.1 FM throughout the weekend. Fans can also listen on the Auburn Tigers website and mobile app or stream the booth cam on the Auburn Softball Facebook page.

Auburn is opening SEC play at home for the first time since the 2022 season. The Tigers are 39-39 all-time across their SEC opening weekends and are looking for their first series win to open league action since sweeping Texas A&M in 2022. Auburn has opened SEC play against Kentucky on three previous occasions, the latest being in 2010. Auburn won all three of the previous opening-weekend series versus Kentucky.

The Tigers concluded their non-conference tournament slate last weekend with the Jane B. Moore Memorial. Auburn posted a 4-2 record with two wins each over Troy and USC Upstate, but dropped a pair of games to No. 11 Virginia Tech. The Tigers enter league play with a 17-6 overall record.

Senior McKaela Walker is the hottest bat in the Tiger lineup after a historic month of February. Walker set the program record for most home runs (8) and highest slugging percentage (1.000) by a Tiger in February. She transferred to Auburn with just two home runs over her last three previous collegiate seasons.

Walker ranks 13th in the SEC with her eight home runs and has slugged five across Auburn’s last seven games. She enters the weekend on a seven-game hitting streak.

Whether it’s via a base hit or a walk, sophomore Kylie Shaw is the toughest out in the Tiger lineup as she has reached base safely in all 23 games to start the season. Leading the SEC with 24 total walks, Shaw ranks fifth in the league and eighth nationally with a .622 on-base percentage. She has recorded at least one hit in 17 of Auburn’s 23 games. She is tied for the team lead with senior Destiny Rodriguez with 10 multi-hit contests.

Sophomore Ella Harrison continues to dominate the circle after striking out a season-high 13 in a complete-game performance versus USC Upstate last weekend. Harrison ranks 10th nationally and fourth in the SEC with eight wins. She boasts a 2.64 earned run average and has struck out 67 this season, which ranks fifth in the league.

Coming off a strong performance at the Jane B. Moore Memorial, redshirt freshman Abby Herndon seems to have found her groove. Herndon earned two wins in relief and posted a 1.85 ERA across her four appearances last weekend. She held opponents to a .255 average at the plate.

Kentucky has had a similar start to the season with an 18-4 overall record. The Wildcats went 12-4 across a 16-game road slate to open the season before sweeping the John Cropp Classic in Lexington. Kentucky’s biggest non-conference win came at No. 13 Stanford as the Wildcats held on for an 11-7 victory.

Allie Blum and Peyton Plotts are the power of the Kentucky offense. The duo has combined for 24 extra-base hits, including 14 home runs, and 40 RBI. Kentucky’s strength is its pitching staff. Ranking seventh in the league, Kentucky holds a 2.21 team ERA. McKenzie Oslanzi and Hailey Nutter anchor the staff. Nutter leads the teams in wins (7) and in strikeouts (52).

For fans traveling to Jane B. Moore Field, Auburn University will begin construction on Wire Road in March to install a sidewalk from Lem Morrison Drive to Samford Avenue. Once construction begins, northbound Wire Road will be reduced to one lane. See map below for more details. 

Wire Road