Softball Game Preview: Auburn Trojans vs. Pleasant Plains Cardinals

The Auburn Trojans will face off against the Pleasant Plains Cardinals at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Auburn is coming into the game hot, having won their last seven games.

Auburn had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the seven-run drubbing they dealt Athens on Tuesday. The Trojans never let the Warriors get on the board and left with a 7-0 victory. The Trojans might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matchups by seven runs or more this season.

Not much got past Meena Taylor, who gave up just a hit and racked up 13 Ks to keep Athens off the board. Taylor has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one earned run any time she's pitched this season.

On the hitting side, Addison Wheatley and Taylor Patterson did most of the damage at the plate: Wheatley scored two runs while going 1-for-3, while Patterson scored two runs while going 3-for-3. Addison Jones also deserves some recognition as she brought in her first RBI of the season.

Auburn hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their strikeout total in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Tuesday just wasn't the day for Pleasant Plains' offense. They lost 8-0 to Olympia on Tuesday. The game marked the first time this season in which the Cardinals were not able to get on the board.

Kayden Skinner made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one triple and one stolen base. The team also got some help courtesy of Aspen Kitowski, who got on base in two of her three plate appearances with two stolen bases.

Auburn pushed their record up to 8-1 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Pleasant Plains, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 4-1-1.

Auburn beat Pleasant Plains 3-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Trojans since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.