Tag: Bri Ellis

Auburn softball season preview: A look at Auburn softball’s top returning hitters

As we prepare for Auburn’s season-opening game on Friday, let’s examine the Tigers’ top lineup pieces.

Auburn softball returns to the diamond this week and will have plenty of experienced lineup pieces to work with this season.

The Tigers lost several talented members of its 2023 roster last season due to the transfer portal such as [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag], and [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag]. However, Auburn is a top-25 team in several national polls due to the players that stayed.

Among those returning are the team leaders in average, runs, hits, and stolen bases. From Nelia Peralta to Icess Tresvik, here is a look at the top ten returning hitters to Auburn’s lineup.

D1Softball names two Razorbacks to preseason All-American team

Nia Carter and Bri Ellis made more history for Arkansas softball with selections to D1Softball’s preseason All-American team.

Two Arkansas Razorback softball players were named to D1Softball’s preseason All-American second team on Friday.

Redshirt senior outfielder [autotag]Nia Carter[/autotag] and junior first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] each earned the honor. The pair are just the fifth and sixth Hogs ever selected to D1Softball’s preseason All-American teams – all of which have come since 2020.

Carter, a transfer from Iowa, chose to play for the Hogs for her final season of eligibility. Carter’s 2023 was incredible as she started all 62 games and recorded 101 hits, 30 RBIs, 45 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 115 total bases with a .479 batting average. She earned plenty of accolades following the year, including first team All-Big Ten and third team All-American nods.

Ellis enters her first season as a Razorback after two stellar seasons at Auburn. She boasts 117 career starts, 96 RBIs, 87 hits and 34 home runs with a career batting average of .288. Last year, she started all 62 games while recording 42 hits, 47 RBIs and 14 home runs with a .275 batting average.

The Hogs will begin their season on Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m in Boca Raton, Fla. when they face Marshall as part of the Paradise Classic.

Auburn checks in at No. 20 in Softball America’s preseason top 25 poll

The Tigers are one of nine SEC squads to be featured in Softball America’s initial poll for the 2024 season.

The Auburn Tigers are poised for another strong season in 2024 and will begin the season ranked in the top 25 of one publication’s preseason poll.

Softball America has released its preseason top 25 poll ahead of the 2024 season, and Auburn checks in at No. 20.

The Tigers are one of nine SEC squads to find a place in the preseason poll. Tennessee is the conference’s highest-rated team at No. 2. Georgia (No. 6) and Arkansas (No. 8) round out the SEC’s top-10 representation. LSU, South Carolina, and Texas A&M are in the top 20 with a No. 12, No. 17, and No. 19 ranking respectively. Auburn is next at No. 20, followed by Alabama (No. 21) and Florida (No. 24).

Future SEC members Oklahoma and Texas are also in the poll. The Sooners will begin the season as the nation’s No. 1 team while Texas is not far behind at No. 7.

The Tigers are looking to earn a spot in the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2016. Last season, Auburn finished the season with 43 wins, the most since the 2017 season. Pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and shortstop [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] headline Auburn’s returning stars for the 2024 season, a year in which head coach Mickey Dean will look to find replacements for key contributors such as [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag], and [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag].

Auburn opens the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 9 against Virginia Tech as part of the Tiger Invitational.

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Carlee McCondichie announces retirement from softball

Auburn’s primary second baseman shares her reasoning behind not using her fifth season of eligibility.

Twitter users worldwide were stunned to learn that new CEO Elon Musk placed limits on the number of tweets they could see over the weekend. One of the tweets many Auburn fans and college softball fans alike were able to see was [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag]’s announcement that she would be stepping away from softball.

McCondichie, Auburn’s primary second baseman over the last two seasons, was one of six notable athletes from Auburn’s 2023 roster to enter the transfer portal following the season. Four players have found new homes, while McCondichie has elected to go in another direction.

She tweeted Sunday afternoon that she will not use her 5th season of eligibility gained due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is sad when a young girl who has played the sport for 18 years of her 22-year life has no interest or desire in playing a 5th year,” McCondichie shared in a tweet.

Her reasoning behind stepping away from the game she has played for most of her life is due to feeling like she was seen as just an athlete and not a human. One instance that she mentioned was she was benched for “failing.” She included that she gave her all for Auburn softball, and was, in turn, benched on senior day.

“I will always continue to support Auburn Softball PLAYERS,” McCondichie said. “But for me, my softball career is OVER and the thought of even playing one game brings me much anxiety, sadly.”

Sophomore first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] shared a similar testimony last month.

“Why should we force ourselves to stay somewhere that we know isn’t right?” Ellis said in a tweet. “Why should we limit ourselves to stay exactly where we are when we as humans are meant to expand and flourish?”

Ellis has since transferred to Arkansas.

McCondichie’s college career ends with an average of .326, 98 hits, seven home runs, 50 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. In the field, she committed just seven errors in 166 games.

RELATED: Lindsey Garcia commits to ACC program

RELATED: Denver Bryant to join another SEC program

RELATED: Jessie Blaine set to transfer to a fellow SEC program

Check out McCondichie’s full thread here:

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Jessie Blaine set to transfer to fellow SEC program

Four members of the 2023 roster have found new homes, with three remaining in the SEC.

So far, four members of Auburn softball’s 2023 roster have found new homes out of the transfer portal. Three of them have announced that they will stay within the SEC.

First baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] kicked off the trend by committing to Arkansas on June 18, and third baseman [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag] announced that she would be transferring to South Carolina earlier this week. Now, former Auburn utility player [autotag]Jessie Blaine[/autotag] will make the move to a fellow SEC program, Mississippi State.

Blaine appeared in 110 games in two seasons at Auburn, making 86 starts. During her time at Auburn, Blaine saw time at catcher, designated player, first base, and right field. During her final season at Auburn, she started 27 games as the Tigers’ designated player and made four starts at catcher.

At the plate, she hit for a .263 average in two seasons with 64 hits, 11 home runs, and 55 RBI. She walked 42 times and struck out 33 times. She hit .285 with 39 hits, 9 home runs, and 37 RBI as a freshman in 2022.

Outside of the three SEC transfers, [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag] will make the move to Clemson for her final season of eligibility. Two players from Auburn remain in the transfer portal according to D1Softball, [autotag]Maia Engelkes[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag].

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Lindsey Garcia commits to ACC program

Garcia becomes the second former Tiger to find a new home out of the transfer portal.

Former Auburn outfielder [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag] did not have to go far to find her new home.

After ending the season with Auburn at McWhorter Stadium against the No. 16 overall seed Clemson Tigers in the Clemson Regional last month, Garcia has announced that she will use her final season of eligibility to stay in Clemson and play for the Tigers.

Garcia announced the news via Twitter on Wednesday in a concise manner. She tweeted a photo of her wearing Clemson’s purple uniform with a caption that featured just the paw print emoji. Her announcement featured just one character more than former teammate Bri Ellis’ announcement, where she tweeted just a photo of her wearing the Arkansas home uniform.

Garcia declared her intention to enter the transfer portal before Auburn’s trip to Clemson for the Clemson Regional. Garcia graduated from Auburn in May and shared that she would be entering the portal as a graduate student.

The native of Coral Springs, Florida appeared in 181 games for Auburn in four seasons and made 159 starts. She clubbed 21 home runs and sent 94 runs home while batting .270. She slugged .486 and struck out just 69 times in 444 total at-bats.

Garcia joins a talented Clemson team that has competed in two-straight NCAA Super Regionals. The Tigers return two-way star Valerie Cagle, slugging outfielder McKenzie Clark, and a solid run producer in Alia Logoelo for next season. Adding Garcia, who can produce equally at the plate and in the field, will definitely boost Clemson’s chances to make the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history.

So far, two of Auburn’s six transfer portal occupants have found new homes. Garcia is heading to Clemson while former first baseman, [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], is staying in the SEC after announcing her commitment to Arkansas. [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag], [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag], [autotag]Jessie Blaine[/autotag], and [autotag]Maia Englekes[/autotag] remain in the portal as of the timing of this post.

Auburn has added one player from the transfer portal to this point, as Big East 2nd team selection from DePaul, [autotag]Anna Wolhers[/autotag], announced her commitment to Auburn on Wednesday.

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Former Auburn star Ellis chooses Arkansas late Sunday

Former Auburn first baseman Bri Ellis chose to transfer to Arkansas and Courtney Deifel on Sunday.

Bri Ellis has one of the most powerful bats in SEC softball.

She will be swinging it for Arkansas next spring, as the first baseman announced on Twitter late Sunday night that she was transferring to Courtney Deifel’s Razorbacks.

Ellis was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2022 when she hit 20 home runs and batted .302.

Last season she only hit 14 home runs but played in all 62 games and led the team with 47 RBI.

She joins a transfer portal class that includes Nia Carter and Morgan Leinstock.

Bri Ellis announces transfer destination

The 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year has found a new place to call home.

Auburn first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] surprised Tiger fans last month by announcing she was entering the transfer portal after spending the first two seasons of her college career on The Plains.

Late Sunday, Ellis revealed she has found a new place to come home. In a simple tweet, Ellis announced she will remain in the SEC by transferring to Arkansas.

Ellis was a staple of Auburn’s lineup since arriving on campus in 2022. During her freshman season, the Houston, Texas, native hit .302 with 20 home runs and 49 RBI. She ended her rookie season by earning several honors such as SEC Freshman of the Year.

Her 2023 season was just as special. She hit .275 with 14 home runs and 47 RBI. Over the last two seasons, Ellis led Auburn in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage.

The move to Arkansas should be a positive one for Ellis. Arkansas head coach Courtney Diefel has had a positive track record in developing acquired talent from the transfer portal.

Recently, former Alabama outfielder KB Sides was named SEC Player of the Year in 2022 after shattering personal bests in average, home runs, hits, RBI and stolen bases. The Razorbacks’ ace pitcher this season, Chenise Delce, also reached her full potential in Fayetteville after transferring from Tulsa. Over the last two seasons, Delce recorded 381 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.07.

At the time of this post, Ellis is the first of six Tigers on the 2023 roster to announce their destination after entering the transfer portal. [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag], [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag], [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag], [autotag]Maia Engelkes[/autotag] and [autotag]Jessie Blaine[/autotag] remain in the transfer portal.

RELATED: Bri Ellis gives insight on what led to her deciding to enter the transfer portal

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Bri Ellis gives insight on what led to her deciding to enter the transfer portal

Auburn softball fans were stunned to learn of Ellis’ decision. Now, she’s opening up.

Former Auburn first baseman [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] announced a few weeks ago that she was entering the transfer portal after two solid seasons with the Tigers.

The decision came as a surprise to many, but Ellis had her reasons. The Houston, Texas, native has provided more information on what led to her deciding to hit the portal on Twitter.

“So grateful for the opportunity to take my future into my own hands and start over somewhere that is right for me,” Ellis said via Twitter. “Women haven’t always been able to have this kind of voice and authority over their own life, and most still don’t. I am thankful that the transfer portal is allowing me to continue my dream and become the best version of myself. Softball empowers us to make these hard decisions so we can take the world by storm. There is more to every story than “the easy route to winning.”

Ellis realized the Auburn softball program is not the right place for her, so finding a new home in the transfer portal is the best option at this time.

The transfer portal receives a great deal of unjust criticism. Binding an athlete to a decision they made when they were a child with no option to change their mind is criminal, so the NCAA found a way to fix it. Athletes should not be criticized for using it.

Ellis also addressed this.

“Instead of the back-and-forth banter about the portal, we should be supporting each other through our own journeys of life that we as women are blessed to now have,” Ellis said. “I am proud of everyone that has taken the risk to transfer, I understand the uncertainty and anxiety, and I can’t wait to see you all succeed in a new place. Much love to the softball world!”

Seeing players leave the team you support is never easy, but having some compassion and understanding there is a reason behind it is the best way to cope with it.

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Year in Review: Maddie Penta

Auburn’s ace had another great season for the Tigers.

Auburn’s season came to a close six days ago when the Clemson Tigers beat them 5-1 in the regional finals.

The Tigers made it to the NCAA Regionals for the third straight season and their 43 wins were the most they have managed since [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag] took over and they finished third in the SEC.

Up next in our Year in Review series is ace [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag]. She was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year after having one of the best seasons ever by an Auburn pitcher.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Maia Engelkes Aspyn Godwin Carlee McCondichie Lindsey Garcia [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag]

Here is a look at Maddie Penta’s junior season.