AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn softball (23-19, 2-13 SEC) readies for its third consecutive top-10 opponent as the Tigers travel to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for a three-game series at No. 4 Florida (41-5, 14-4 SEC).
“Florida is a very veteran team,” said co-head coach Kate Malveaux. “They have that experience to go along with a well-established culture. They are going to hit the ball hard. They are going to play clean ball. They are going to come at us in the circle just like Alabama did. The exciting thing is that we are getting back to who we are as a team. I’m excited to see how we respond.”
The series begins Friday at 5 p.m. CT. Saturday’s contest is slated for 2 p.m. CT while Sunday’s finale is set for 12 p.m. CT. All three games will air on SEC Network+. Ryan Urquhart and Aleshia Ocasio will be on the call.
Brit Bowen and JJ Jackson will provide radio coverage for all three games on WEGL 91.1 FM. Fans can also listen via the Auburn Tigers website and mobile app or stream the booth cam on the Auburn Softball Facebook page.
After picking up a series win over Kentucky to open SEC play, Auburn is looking to bounce back after being swept in four consecutive conference series. Three of those four opponents were ranked in the top 10 at the time as the Tigers enter the weekend having played the ninth-toughest schedule in the country.
Florida has secured five conference series wins this season, including sweeps of Missouri, Kentucky and South Carolina. Its lone series loss came at No. 10 Arkansas. The Razorbacks took two of three games.
Slugging has been a major part of Auburn’s success this season with 38 percent of its hits going for extra bases. The Tigers have hit 51 home runs as a team, tying the 2017 squad for the ninth-most in a single season in program history. Senior McKaela Walker and junior Ma’Nia Womack lead the team with 10 home runs apiece.
Consistency has been key to junior Alyssa Hastings’ success this season. She has been held hitless in just 14 of Auburn’s 42 games and leads the team in batting average both overall (.394) and in SEC play (.327). Hastings also leads Auburn in conference play in hits (16), RBI (6), home runs (3) and slugging percentage (.571).
Junior Ella Harrison leads Auburn’s pitching staff with a 3.80 ERA and 10 wins. She ranks 10th in the SEC with 114 strikeouts and is averaging 6.8 strikeouts per seven innings.
Taylor Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson anchor Florida’s offense. Both hitters have a batting average above .450 this season. The duo has combined for 124 runs scored, 135 hits, 33 home runs and 114 RBI. Shumaker leads the SEC with 72 hits and ranks third in the league with a .471 batting average. Erickson ranks third in the SEC and seventh nationally with 19 home runs.
Florida ranks 13th nationally with a 2.51 team ERA. Keagan Rothrock is the ace of the Gators’ pitching staff, holding a 2.42 ERA while leading the SEC with 21 wins. She also ranks fourth in the league with 140 strikeouts.
Auburn is searching for its first series win over Florida since 2005.