March 7, 2017 AUBURN VS. ALABAMA STATE
(19-2, 0-0 SEC) vs. (5-12, 0-0 SWAC)
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" On the back end of a 21-game homestand, the No. 2 Auburn softball team is set to take on Alabama State Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Jane B. Moore Field and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
The Tigers have won 16 of 17 home games thus far into 2017 and will look to add to that total after welcoming a familiar in-state foe.
Auburn has faced Alabama State seven times in program history and have won all seven decisions, including all three meetings at home.
The Hornets are led by head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson, who was a three-year letterwinner for Auburn when the program first began in 1997.
The Tigers boast a 0.63 team ERA, which is the lowest in the country to this point. Jenna Abbott (0.00), Kaylee Carlson (0.51) and Makayla Martin (0.67) all allow fewer than one earned run per outing.
Four players boast battling clips of .400 or better with Alyssa Rivera leading the charge at .444. Carlee Wallace touts a team-best 11 extra-base hits, including seven doubles and four home runs.
Following its in-state battle, Auburn kicks off SEC play with a three-game series against No. 12 LSU, Friday-Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Player to Watch: Kendall Veach
Sophomore infielder Kendall Veach has cemented herself into the heart of the lineup with her impressive play. Veach has tallied a hit in 13 games this season and the team is 12-1 in that span. The Selma, Ala. native is currently riding a three-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in four of five games in the month of March.
An Auburn Win WouldÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦
A win by Auburn would give the Tigers their 20th win of the season. Auburn has eclipsed the 20-win plateau in all but one season in program history, with that year (1998) being the second year of the program's existence.
On This DateÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦
On March 8, 2015, Emily Carosone blasted a grand slam to highlight a four-run comeback against No. 22 Arizona State in the Judi Garman Classic. Auburn ended up winning 7-4 to complete a 4-1 weekend in the prestigious California tournament. Lexi Davis tossed six scoreless innings in relief to go along with five strikeouts.