Auburn Softball Wraps Up Road Schedule with In-State Battle Against South Alabama
The Auburn Tigers softball team is set to conclude its regular-season road slate with a midweek contest against in-state rival South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday at Jaguar Field. This matchup marks the final road game for the Tigers (27-20) before they return home for their final stretch of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, and fans can catch the action live on ESPN+. Radio coverage will also be available on WEGL 91.1 FM and the Auburn Sports Network, with JJ Jackson providing the commentary.
This will be the tenth meeting between Auburn and South Alabama, with the Tigers holding a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams have already faced each other once this season, with Auburn securing a close 7-6 victory at Jane B. Moore Field in March. That game saw South Alabama jump to an early 5-0 lead, only for Auburn to mount a dramatic comeback fueled by a six-RBI performance from Anna Wohlers and a walk-off home run by freshman sensation AnnaLea Adams. Notably, all nine previous encounters between the Tigers and the Jaguars have been decided by three runs or less, with six of those games being decided by a single run, indicating a history of tight and competitive matchups. This will be Auburn’s first trip to Jaguar Field since 2011, with the Tigers holding a perfect 2-0 record in games played in Mobile. This season also marks the first time the two in-state programs will meet twice in the same year, adding another layer of intrigue to Wednesday’s contest.
Auburn’s co-head coach Chris Malveaux emphasized the importance of every game at this crucial point in the season. “We have to remember that every single game matters right now,” Malveaux stated. “We’re going into the game to win. The other piece is remembering the game back in March and how South Alabama was in control for most of the game. We’ve got to make sure that we’re locked in, play our game, and take control early. We’ll have to pitch well. We had a difficult time with their lineup. We need to score in every opportunity we 1 have.”
The South Alabama Jaguars (17-27) enter the midweek matchup after being swept in a three-game series at Louisiana over the weekend. The Jaguars struggled offensively in that series, managing just one run on 11 hits and leaving 23 runners stranded on base. This offensive slump has been a trend for South Alabama recently, as they have won only three of their last 15 games. In their 12 losses during this stretch, the Jaguars have averaged just 2.0 runs and 4.58 hits per game, being held to five or fewer hits in 11 of those contests. They have also left a total of 72 runners on base in those 12 defeats, highlighting their struggles to capitalize on offensive opportunities.
Despite the team’s recent struggles, several individual players stand out for the Jaguars. Gabby Stagner has been a consistent offensive threat, leading the team in multiple categories, including home runs (10), slugging percentage (.676), and RBI (36). She has also recorded 12 multi-RBI games and nine multi-hit games this season, demonstrating her ability to drive in runs and get on base. Presley Lively has been a key contributor as well, leading the Sun Belt Conference with 30 walks. The true freshman also ranks fourth in the conference with 40 runs scored and has a solid .276 batting average. Lively has reached base safely in a career-best 12 consecutive games, the fourth such streak of 12 or more games by a Jaguar this season. Of her 35 hits, 10 have gone for extra bases, including an inside-the-park home run, showcasing her ability to impact the game in various ways. In the circle, sophomore Ryley Harrison has been the leading pitcher for South Alabama, with seven wins and a 3.02 earned run average. In conference play, Harrison has been particularly effective, allowing just 12 earned runs in 42.1 innings for a 1.98 ERA, which ranks fifth-lowest among Sun Belt pitchers. She has also struck out 39 batters in conference play, tied for fourth-most, and her 13 strikeouts looking are tied for third in the league.
For Auburn, freshman AnnaLea Adams continues to impress in her debut season. She hit her ninth home run of the year during the recent series against Georgia and is now tied with Jessie Blaine (2022) for the fourth-most home runs ever hit by an Auburn freshman. Adams also boasts the second-highest batting average (.406) and the third-highest slugging percentage (.717) among Auburn freshmen in program history. Despite missing nine of Auburn’s 47 games, she still ranks in the top five on the team in hits (43), RBI (32), doubles (6), home runs (9), and total bases (76), underscoring her significant impact on the Tigers’ offense.
As a team, Auburn’s offense has shown significant improvement this season. They have already surpassed their 2024 totals in home runs (45 in 2024 vs. 55 in 2025) and runs scored (213 in 2024 vs. 276 in 2025), achieving this in just 42 games. Their 55 home runs this season are the eighth-most in a single season in program history and the most since they hit 64 in 2023. The Tigers have also scored 10 or more runs eight times this season, a significant increase from just twice in 2024. They are a perfect 8-0 when scoring 10 or more runs and 17-1 when scoring at least six runs, highlighting the correlation between offensive production and winning. Icess Tresvik leads the Auburn sluggers with 10 home runs, marking her first season with double-digit home runs since her freshman year at North Carolina A&T in 2021. Her 16 stolen bases rank ninth in the league, showcasing her all-around offensive capabilities.
In the pitching circle, SJ Geurin has been a workhorse for the Tigers, ranking fourth in the SEC and 20th nationally with 17 wins. She has been directly involved in 21 of Auburn’s 27 victories, either earning the win or the save. Geurin leads the team with a 3.09 ERA and 78 strikeouts, providing stability and experience to the pitching staff.
Auburn has faced one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season, with their opponents holding a combined .665 winning percentage entering the midweek. The Tigers are also one of only 19 teams nationally to have 12 or more wins against teams currently ranked in the top 50 of the NCAA RPI, demonstrating their ability to compete and win against high-caliber opponents.
Looking ahead, this midweek matchup against South Alabama provides Auburn with a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their game before the final stretch of the regular season. With postseason implications looming, every game carries significant weight, and a strong performance on the road against a familiar opponent could provide valuable momentum as they head into their final home series. For South Alabama, this game offers a chance to bounce back from their recent struggles and secure a significant win against an in-state rival, which could boost their confidence as they navigate the remainder of their schedule. The history between these two teams suggests another closely contested battle is in store, and Wednesday’s game in Mobile is sure to be an exciting affair for fans of both programs.
