After sweeping the Tiger Invitational, Auburn Softball (5-0) heads to Clearwater, FL for the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational.
The Tigers enjoyed a strong offensive weekend, with a .350 team batting average and 48 hits. The pitching staff also contributed with 30 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA. Nelia Peralta, who was named SEC Co-Player of the Week, stood out, hitting .661 with three home runs and two doubles. As Auburn faces tougher competition this weekend, they’ll need to keep their momentum and continue playing at a high level.
The Tigers open their weekend on Thursday, February 13th, at 3 p.m. CST against Clemson (3-2). Clemson enters the matchup after the Paradise Classic, posting a .292 team batting average and 40 hits. Their pitching staff, with a solid 1.75 ERA and 27 strikeouts, will present a tough challenge for Auburn. The Tigers will need to stay sharp to open the weekend with a win.
On Friday, Auburn will take on Virginia (3-2) at 10 a.m. CST. The Cavaliers have a .252 team batting average and 33 hits on the season. Alex Brown, who batted .500 with nine hits over the weekend, will be a player to watch. Virginia also boasts a strong fielding percentage of .962 and a pitching staff with a 3.34 ERA. Auburn will need to be ready for a competitive contest.
Later Friday, Auburn faces the University of Central Florida (5-1) at 2:30 p.m. CST. UCF enters with a .237 team batting average and 33 hits. However, their pitching staff has been dominant, posting a 1.23 ERA and 26 strikeouts. This will be another tough test for Auburn as they look to continue their strong start to the season.
Saturday will feature two important matchups. The Tigers will first meet Charlotte (2-3) at 12:00 PM CST. Charlotte enters the Invitational with 16 hits and 7 RBIs from their previous weekend. Teagan Ritchie, with a .308 batting average and a slugging percentage of .615, leads the team. Auburn will look to capitalize on Charlotte’s less-experienced pitching staff to secure another win.
Later Saturday, Auburn will face Oklahoma State (2-2) at 3 p.m. CST. Oklahoma State boasts a strong .321 team batting average and 34 hits, led by Megan Delgadillo and Karli Godwin. However, their pitching staff has a higher ERA of 5.03, which could give Auburn an opportunity to maintain their offensive success and build on their early season momentum.
The Tigers will close the Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 16t at 11 a.m. CST against Liberty (5-0). This promises to be a highly competitive matchup, as Liberty has a .331 team batting average with 46 hits and three players hitting over .400: KK Madrey, Brooke Roberts, and Savannah Woodard. Liberty's pitching staff has been dominant, posting a 1.00 ERA, led by Paige Bachman (3-0) with 16 strikeouts. This game will surely be a thrilling contest to cap off the weekend.
Auburn faces a challenging slate of opponents in Clearwater, FL but with their strong offensive and defensive play, they’ll look to continue their early-season success. The weekend promises exciting matchups and great softball action.
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Sarah is a freshman majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow her on X (Twitter) at @sarahsewall12
