AUBURN, Ala. – Separated by only one game in the Southeastern Conference standings, No. 16 Auburn Softball (37-10, 9-9 SEC) hosts No. 15 Georgia (38-11, 10-8 SEC) in the Tigers' final home series at Jane B. Moore Field in the regular season.
"Georgia brings a lot of power at the plate," said head coach Mickey Dean. "They lead the SEC in several offensive categories. This weekend it will be key for our pitching staff to work ahead to keep them off-balanced at the plate."
The series opens on Friday at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. Brit Bowen and former Auburn softball student-athlete and assistant coach Amy Reif will be on the call. Saturday's contest is also scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. Bowen will be joined by three-time Auburn All-American Kasey Cooper. Cooper and Bowen will also have the call for Sunday's finale. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Prior to Sunday's first pitch, Auburn will honor its senior class of Apsyn Godwin and Samantha Yarbrough in a special pregame ceremony. Fans can receive the final tumbler of the four-piece giveaway on Sunday while supplies lasts.
JJ Jackson will have radio coverage of all three contests of the series on the Auburn Sports Network.
LEADING OFF
- In the final regular season games at Jane B. Moore Field, Auburn softball hosts Georgia in a crucial conference series. Auburn is searching for its first series win over the Bulldogs since 2017.
- Turning in one of the top slugging performances in the SEC, Bri Ellis was honored as one of 25 finalists for the 2022 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year award.
- Picking up a road series victory at Mississippi State, Auburn has won nine Southeastern Conference contests, surpassing its 2021 total. It's Auburn most wins in league action since picking up 10 in 2019.
- Behind a pair of home runs at Mississippi State, Bri Ellis has tied Kasey Cooper for the program's freshman home run record at 18. Ellis currently stands tied for fifth in Auburn single-season history in home runs and is just four shy of shattering the single-season record.
- With a complete-game effort in Sunday's rubber game at Mississippi State, Maddie Penta brought her SEC-leading wins total to 22. She is now tied with Lexi Davis (2014) for sixth in Auburn single-season history. Penta ranks fourth nationally in wins.
- Behind its shutout victory at Mercer, Auburn secured its 30th win of the 2022 season. This marks Auburn's first 30-win series since 2019. With seven regular-season contests remaining, Auburn is searching for its first 40-win season since 2018.
- Behind her seven strikeouts versus Chattanooga, Maddie Penta surpassed 200 strikeouts for her sophomore season. She is the first Tiger to hit the milestone since Anna Thompson in 2010. Penta's season strikeout total now stands at 221, the seventh most in a single season on the Plains.
ON DECK
The Tigers conclude the regular season with a three-game series at Tennessee. The series opens on Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.