Tigers set to host the War Eagle Challenge

Tigers set to host the War Eagle ChallengeTigers set to host the War Eagle Challenge
Cat Wofford/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn (16-4) look to continue its momentum from last weekend's west-coast trip as the Tigers host the War Eagle Challenge against Michigan State, Radford, Louisville and Mercer this weekend.

The War Eagle Challenge will begin when Auburn faces off against Michigan State Thursday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. The Tigers will turn around and play Radford the following night at 6:00 p.m., before facing Louisville (2 p.m.) and Radford (4:30 p.m.) Saturday afternoon. Action will conclude Sunday after Auburn plays Michigan State (11:30 a.m.) and Mercer (2:00 p.m.).

Auburn's games against Michigan State (Thursday), Radford (Friday), Michigan State (Sunday) and Mercer (Sunday) will be available on SEC Network +. All six Tiger games will have a radio broadcast available to listen to on the Auburn Sports Network.  

No. 20 Auburn returns home after going 3-1 in the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California last weekend. Tigers earned a 9-2 win over Loyola Marymount, 7-1 victory against UTSA and beat then-No. 20 Oregon 8-0 in five innings before falling to then-No. 5 Washington, 8-6, in nine innings.

"I thought we played well (last weekend)," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean. "I thought we showed ourselves that we are now capable of taking this show on the road and playing well and that's important at this point."

QUICK HITTERS:

-          Casey McCrackin is set to join teammates Alyssa Rivera and Kendall Veach as the only active Auburn softball players with 100 career hits. McCrackin will surpass the milestone with two hits this weekend. Rivera was the first to reach the mark this season when she reached the plateau against North Dakota State on Feb. 23. Veach joined Rivera on Feb. 28 when Auburn faced UTSA.

-          With her next hit-by-pitch, Justus Perry will have 19 career hit-by-pitches, which will tie the junior with Lindsey Chitwood (2001-04) for 10th most in program history. Perry, who led the team with six hit-by-pitches in 2018, is three shy of entering the top-10 single-season hit-by-pitches mark.

DONATIONS:

-          Donations for Lee County tornado relief efforts will be accepted Friday night between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. and against Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the McWhorter Center parking lot on the intersection of Samford Avenue and Biggio Drive.

PROMOTIONS:

-          Mini-poster set one (of four) give away on Sunday for the first 500 fans, featuring Tate Moseley, Aspyn Godwin, Haley Nillen, Makenna Dowell and Chardonnay Harris.

-          Post-game autograph sessions at the conclusion of the final Auburn softball game of the day, weather permitting.