No. 19 Tigers "Ready To Take It Up A Notch"

The Auburn Tiger Softball Team has been playing like a team on a mission this spring.The Tigers opened the season 15-0, tying the all time best opening record, set just last year. They are undefeated at home, have a 21-3 overall record, and are ranked No.19 in the nation in ESPN/USA Softball's top 25.

The Tigers have left some pretty good teams in their wake along the way including No.14 UCLA, No.15 Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, and No. 23 Georgia Tech.

Season two starts today though as Auburn opens SEC play in Baton Rouge with a double header with No. 20 LSU followed by a road trip to No. 7 Georgia this weekend.

Tiger hitting, led by senior Elizabeth Eisterhold has been ausome. Eisterhold was on a tear over the weekend at the War Eagle Classic Tournament. She went 9 for 15 (.600 avg.) with 12 RBI's, one double, three home runs, and scored seven runs. Her three home runs in the tournament brings her career total to 29 and places her fourth all-time on the Auburn career home run list.

Tina Deese teams always have good hitting; and more than one game this spring has had to be called early for the eight-run mercy rule.

However, the really bright spot for Auburn thus far has been pitching. Lauren Schmalz (6-3) was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after her wins over Ok State and Georgia Tech; while senior Angel Bunner (8-0) is the first Auburn pitcher to ever be drafted for the Pro's. She was selected 17th overall last week by the Carolina Diamonds in the National Pro Fastpitch 2012 Draft.

On Monday, senior Jenee Loree (7-1) was selected for her second SEC Pitcher of the Week Award this season by the league office. She struck out 11 batters in 10 innings during the Classic while throwing her second no-hitter against Presbyterian. It was the fourth NH of her career.

Coach Deese was expectantly proud for Jenee and for her team's performance in winning the Classic and keeping the Tigers home record unblemished. But she was cautiously optimistic in her remarks, "Now it's time to take it up a notch. Conference play starts (Wed.) and everything gets tougher."

*******

Update: AU splits with LSU. Angel Bunner threw a one hit shutout in game two to win 2-0. LSU won game one 4-1.