Home runs and team defense have led the Auburn softball team to this weekend's NCAA Regional, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Head coach Clint Myers, however, knows the team needs more than that if they want to advance.
"For us, it's going to need to be about the whole game," Myers said. "We're going to give up some runs, but we have to go out and score some runs too. That's the key thing."
The Tigers (39-17-1, 11-13 SEC) will face North Dakota State to begin regional play on Friday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m. Green Bay and host Minnesota fill out the rest of the regional.
"Postseason is about playing the best teams," said Myers. "I don't know much about Green Bay, but the other two (Minnesota, North Dakota State), I know they're good programs."
Myers, in his first year at Auburn after serving as head coach at Arizona State and leading the Sun Devils to two NCAA Championships, has revived the program after the Tigers missed the NCAA tournament last year for the first time since 2007.
Auburn is tied for 3rd in the country with 79 team home runs and is No. 1 in scoring with 418 runs.
The Tigers started the year on fire, piling up a 31-4-1 record before a seven-game losing streak began with a loss at Kentucky and then consecutive sweeps at the hands of Florida and Missouri.
Auburn then picked up their winning ways with a 7-3 record in their final 10 regular season games.
In the SEC Tournament held in Columbia, South Carolina, the Tigers upset the host Gamecocks 7-5 before losing to rival Alabama 8-4.
"We're very proud of what this team has been able to accomplish," Myers said.
The coach also knows that his team needs to improve in some areas.
"We have to pitch a little better," Myers said, "and make sure we have an understanding of the little things and take care of business."
The team is also hoping that a little Auburn magic rubbed off on them after a trip to Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, on Wednesday.
Before the game, the Tigers met former Auburn baseball player David Ross, who was on the 1997 College World Series team and now plays for the Boston Red Sox.
Auburn received a tough draw by the NCAA Selection Committee, being placed in the 16th regional which means, if they advance, they will take on No. 1 Oregon in Eugene.
"Would I have rather been somewhere else other than the 16th regional, yeah," Myers said. "This matches us up with the number one team in the country."
Despite that pending obstacle, Myers is confident about his team.
"The nice thing about it is we played Oregon once already," said Myers. "It's postseason. Whoever lines up with you, you have to play."
The Minnesota Regional comes first, though, and the Tigers say they are ready for the challenge.
"We're going to have to play Auburn softball," Myers said. "It's the team that doesn't beat themselves that has the best chance to win."
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