After winning 15 conference games and making it to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament last weekend, Auburn fans were obviously disappointed to learn that they would be traveling in the NCAA regionals as opposed to hosting.
Auburn will travel to Clemson for the second consecutive postseason to compete in the Clemson regional. The host Tigers earned the No. 16 seed after finishing third in the ACC. Last time out, Auburn knocked off Louisiana before dropping two straight games to bow out of the regional round.
This season, Auburn has the opportunity to prove why they belong in the super-regional round. Not only has Auburn won six of their last 10 games, but they have the chance to take advantage of a vulnerable Clemson team who has lost four of their last six games.
In order to do that, they will need to take care of Clemson ace, Valerie Cagle. Cagle has struck out 177 batters while boasting a 1.20 ERA. Auburn counters with Maddie Penta, who has posted a career-low ERA of 1.10 and boasts a career-best 187 strikeouts will provide an entertaining weekend for softball fans says Softball America.
Keep an eye on the arms in South Carolina. The Clemson program has earned an NCAA bid in each of the three complete seasons of its existence. Two-way player and top 10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Valerie Cagle, once again leads the team in the box and in the circle. The Tigers will host a Regional for the second year in a row, welcoming the other Tigers from Auburn and SEC Pitcher of the Year Maddie Penta, the Fullerton Titans and five-time Big West Pitcher of the Week Myka Sutherlin and the SoCon champions, UNC Greensboro.
Auburn and Clemson will face the likes of Cal-State Fullerton and UNC-Greensboro this weekend at the Clemson regional. The winner of this week’s action at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson will face the winner of the Norman regional, which is hosted by top-overall seed Oklahoma.
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