As the Florida Gators finished off a 3-2 win in extra innings over Auburn in May, Tigers coach Clint Myers and his players had to come to terms with leaving Oklahoma City without the national championship trophy. As dismaying as the season-ending loss was, however, the sting of defeat was outweighed by the realization that Auburn softball had officially arrived.
Auburn finished the season 56-11 with an SEC Tournament title, a Women’s College World Series berth and the No. 3 spot in the final rankings, just behind national champion Florida and national runner-up Michigan. The Tigers broke the SEC record for runs scored in a season with 526 and knocked a school-record 99 balls out of the park. Following what was by far the best season in program history, Auburn has the potential to be even better in 2016.
There are numerous reasons for optimism for Tigers fans, but the biggest beacon of hope is Myers, who won national championships at Arizona State in 2008 and 2011 and guided the Sun Devils to seven WCWS appearances in eight seasons. Myers is 98-30-1 in his first two seasons on The Plains, the winningest two-year stretch in program history. He has raised the bar at Auburn in only a couple of seasons.
The Tigers, who were ranked No. 4 in the preseason rankings and are currently No. 3, are arguably the most experienced team in the nation. Gone are outfielders Morgan Estell and Branndi Melero, but every other member of 2015's starting lineup returns this season.
The 2016 Tigers have nine seniors on the roster, including Tiffany Howard, Emily Carosone, Jade Rhodes, Madison Dickey, Maria Mitchell, Kelsey Bogaards, Rachael Walters, Marcy Harper and Lexi Davis. Their combined 37 seasons of experience, as well as their experience leading Auburn to the WCWS, could prove pivotal to Auburn’s success.
Infielders Haley Fagan and Bogaards are battling injuries, but Myers believes they are both recovering well and shouldn’t be absent for too long.
With only three players from 2015’s 26-player roster gone, the Tigers had a chance to build depth and continue the program’s positive momentum through recruiting, and that is exactly what they did. Auburn signed nine recruits, with three coming from Florida, two coming from Georgia and Alabama each, one coming from Louisiana and one from California.
With 900 seats being added to Jane B. Moore Field, the Tigers will have an even bigger home-field advantage than they did a season ago. In 2015, Auburn went 32-3 at home, outscoring opponents 306-116, an average score of approximately 9-3. Half of the Tigers’ home wins came via the mercy rule.
However, it isn't exactly national title or bust for Auburn in 2016. The SEC is the nation’s best softball conference, as seven teams, besides Auburn, are ranked: No. 1 Florida, No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Alabama, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 12 Georgia, No. 15 Missouri and No. 18 Kentucky. Texas A&M and Mississippi State were the first two teams to miss the top 25. Navigating the SEC is treacherous, as always.
However, with Myers at the helm and a veteran roster hungry to continue 2015’s successes, the Tigers have the potential to be as good as any team in college softball.
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