After taking the series against Arkansas at home last weekend, Auburn’s softball team will now travel to South Carolina.

“Our team is hitting better, we’re pitching great, playing great defense and have the momentum going into the South Carolina series,” said senior pitcher Jenee Loree.

The women started out 16–0 in the first half of the season, and although they’ve had a few losses and injuries since then, Loree said they still have the confidence they need as a team to finish strong.

“We went through a lot of injuries, tough injuries, and we have to stay together as a team and that’s what we’ve done here on out,” Loree said. “We know we have each and every one of our players’ backs, and we’ll do anything for any one on the team, so we’ve got to stay together.”

Loree said the team is feeling good about the series this weekend, and with their talent they should be able to sweep the series and keep the drive going into Mississippi State the following weekend.

Senior shortstop Lauren Guzman said compared to other SEC schools, South Carolina’s has one of the better away environments.

“They’re a classy organization and school,” Guzman said. “It’s different. You have to learn to make yourself want to prove them wrong instead of taking it personal.”

Even though the end of the season is near, Guzman said the team is still focusing on things they’ve been doing wrong in order to finish the season as strong as possible.

“As the season goes on, you know, your body starts to feel it, and you don’t want to overdo yourself in practice,” Guzman said. “So we’ve started focusing more on what we’re doing wrong and what we need to focus on, instead of generally like we would in the fall.”

Looking past this weekend, the team is hoping to win its final two regular season series, make it through the postseason and reach its goal by playing in the College World Series, Guzman said.

The end of the regular season not only brings an end to softball and being part of a team for some of the seniors, but, as Guzman describes them, a family.

“Throughout the season we’ve had our ups and downs,” she said. “You have sisters, you fight with your sisters, but at the end you realize you are family and you guys come together. When we come together it’s a beautiful thing.”