Heading into this week’s slate of games, Auburn is looking to make adjustments from last weekend’s close loss against South Carolina. The Tigers are hosting the Tiger Invitational with games against Jacksonville, Murray State, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
In the Osprey/Dolphin Invitational last weekend, rain caused two cancellations and limited the Tigers to just three games instead of five. They emerged 2-1 with a single win against Jacksonville and No. 19 South Carolina but ended with a 6-5 loss in their second game against the Gamecocks.
“I learned that we’ve got some fight and that we’re going to play hard,” said head coach Mickey Dean on the late comeback. “It’s nice to win some ballgames here in the last couple of weeks, knowing you’re not playing your best ball yet.”
Both Dean and junior catcher Aspyn Godwin noted that the Osprey/Dolphin Invitational was an opportunity to play competitive teams, both non-conference and SEC, and see improvements the team needed to make moving forward.
“What we need to get better at is swinging at better pitches…and not giving the pitcher an advantage,” Godwin said. “I think we’re doing pretty well so far.”
Freshman Maddie Penta threw a no-hitter in her collegiate debut, but time is also being dedicated to allowing her rest while other players can develop. Focus remains on learning how the team fits together and what each athlete can contribute.
“With every player on the team, we ask them to play the role to the best of their ability, and right now we’re figuring out, on this pitching staff, what each person’s role is to make us the best team possible,” Dean said. “When it comes to our pitchers, how can they really complement each other. I think that’s a process and it’s in progress.”
The focus for the Tiger Invitational is team cohesion and pitch selection to improve overall. Areas of improvement have been identified, and now the team looks to execute these changes.
The Tigers' first game is against Jacksonville on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. CST.
Friday’s games will be a doubleheader against Murray State with games at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. On Saturday, Auburn takes part in another doubleheader against IUPUI at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
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Callie Stanford is from Springville, Alabama and is currently a sophomore at Auburn. She has been with The Plainsman since January 2021.
Twitter: @Stanford1Callie
