SOFTBALL CENTRAL: #5/7 Lady Vols Host #13/14 Auburn

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 5/7 Tennessee (28-6, 6-3 SEC) starts a six-game homestand this weekend as it hosts No. 13/14 Auburn in its first of two back-to-back SEC home series. The Lady Vols will face the Tigers in a Saturday-Monday series on April 6-8.

The No. 5/7 Lady Vols are coming off a 2-1 weekend after having claimed the series at Missouri on Monday. It's the first time since the Tigers joined the conference that UT has won the series in Columbia, Missouri.

It's also the first time since 2014 that UT has won three consecutive conference series to start the season, having also taken two games from both Florida and Arkansas earlier this year.

Broadcast Info

Saturday, April 6

Time: 2 p.m. ET
Radio: UTSports.com | UT Gameday App | AM 990
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Broadcast: SECN+/WatchESPN App

Sunday, April 7

Time: 6 p.m. ET
Radio: UTSports.com | UT Gameday App | AM 990
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Broadcast: SEC Network

Monday, April 8

Time: 7 p.m. ET
Radio: UTSports.com | UT Gameday App | AM 990
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Broadcast: SEC Network

Need to Know

Tennessee ranks third in the Southeastern Conference with a .328 batting average and second with a .984 fielding percentage. The Lady Vols' average at the plate ranks 14th in the nation while their fielding percentage is third.
In the SEC, UT comes in at second in W/L percentage (.818) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.31) and ERA (1.92).
The Lady Vols have six wins over opponents ranked in the Top 25 by the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll.
UT is outscoring opponents 222-64 through two-thirds of the season. Tennessee has thrown nine shutouts total and run-ruled opponents 13 times.
Senior Aubrey Leach led Tennessee offensively last week, posting a .375 average (3-for-8) with three runs scored and two RBIs. She boasted a team-best .583 on-base percentage in the Mizzou series.
Leach is 17 runs shy of breaking Tennessee's career record of 244 runs scored. She currently has 228 runs scored through 214 games. She also sits in third place in career walks with 144, just 10 walks shy of the program record (154).
Leach was also tabbed a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. Fans can vote for Leach through May 20 as many times as they like.
In the circle, freshman Ashley Rogers led the Lady Vols with a 2-1 record on the weekend. She threw her ninth complete game of the season in the second game of the series and allowed four runs on six hits. Rogers struck out nine batters through 11.2 innings of work to lead Tennessee to its third SEC series victory and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for her performance. She also posted a 2.40 ERA for the week.
Senior Haley Bearden is having a career year as Tennessee's clean-up hitter. She's tallied 26 hits, 23 RBI and a team-leading nine home runs en route to a .313 batting average. Her hits, RBI and homer totals for 2019 alone surpass her previous three season totals combined.

Scouting Report

AUBURN

Mickey Dean is in his second season as head coach of the Tigers. In 2018, Auburn went 41-17 (11-12 SEC) and advanced to the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.
The Tigers are coming off a series win against Georgia and also sit at 6-3 in the conference, making this weekend an opportunity for either team to separate itself.
Casey McCrackin leads the team offensively with 47 hits, 34 runs scored, 13 doubles and a .482 on-base percentage. Overall, Auburn boasts nine players who are hitting over .315.
In the circle, Makayla Martin owns a team-best 1.31 ERA and an 11-2 record. She has thrown 10 complete games and allowed just 15 earned runs through 80.0 innings of work.

All-Time Record vs. Auburn: 37-24

In Knoxville: UT leads, 20-7
In Auburn: Series tied, 14-14
At Neutral Sites: Series tied, 3-3
Last Meeting: Auburn won, 6-0 on 4/8/18 in Auburn to win the series

For the latest news and information on the Lady Vols, follow Tennessee softball on Twitter (@Vol_Softball), Facebook (Vol Softball), Instagram (@Vol_Softball) and UTSports.com/Softball.

Broadcast Info

Saturday, April 6

Sunday, April 7

Monday, April 8

Need to Know

Scouting Report

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haley Bearden

Aubrey Leach

Ashley Rogers

University of Tennessee Athletics