Spring Break
Softball faces challenge on road against Auburn
BEN BUSSARD
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
Following a disappointing loss to unranked Mississippi State in the night cap of Wednesday's doubleheader, the Georgia softball team (30-8, 11-6 SEC) looks to get back on track this weekend against Auburn.
The Tigers (27-17; 7-10 SEC) are coming off an extra inning home loss of their own after they were defeated by South Alabama on Tuesday night 3-1.
Auburn has lost four games in a row, including seven of its last nine SEC matchups.
Even with the loss to Mississippi State, Georgia remains a half game in front of Tennessee in the Eastern Division standings.
The Bulldogs will be looking to improve upon their 3-5 road record and will draw from the experience they gained on road trips to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Gainesville, Fla.
"That's just part of playing in the SEC," sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud said. "We play good teams every week and going on the road is a challenge."
With sophomore second baseman Megan Wiggins - the team's second-leading home run hitter (9) - still on the shelf after breaking her wrist against Furman at the beginning of the month, sophomores Alisa Goler and Taylor Schlopy will play a more predominant role in the Bulldogs' offensive strategy.
Goler leads the SEC with 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 1.010 slugging percentage, while Schlopy is the SEC's leading run scorer with 48, and leads the conference with a .574 on-base percentage.
"There's no added pressure really," Schlopy said about hitting leadoff. "I just try to have long at-bats so that the rest of the lineup can see all [of the opposing pitcher's] pitches."
With the SEC Tournament just three weeks away, it's imperative the Bulldogs continue to improve and end the regular season on a positive streak.
"We just try to get one percent better each and every day," Schlopy said. "We have to take it one game at a time."
The Tigers (27-17; 7-10 SEC) are coming off an extra inning home loss of their own after they were defeated by South Alabama on Tuesday night 3-1.
Auburn has lost four games in a row, including seven of its last nine SEC matchups.
Even with the loss to Mississippi State, Georgia remains a half game in front of Tennessee in the Eastern Division standings.
The Bulldogs will be looking to improve upon their 3-5 road record and will draw from the experience they gained on road trips to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Gainesville, Fla.
"That's just part of playing in the SEC," sophomore pitcher Sarah McCloud said. "We play good teams every week and going on the road is a challenge."
With sophomore second baseman Megan Wiggins - the team's second-leading home run hitter (9) - still on the shelf after breaking her wrist against Furman at the beginning of the month, sophomores Alisa Goler and Taylor Schlopy will play a more predominant role in the Bulldogs' offensive strategy.
Goler leads the SEC with 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 1.010 slugging percentage, while Schlopy is the SEC's leading run scorer with 48, and leads the conference with a .574 on-base percentage.
"There's no added pressure really," Schlopy said about hitting leadoff. "I just try to have long at-bats so that the rest of the lineup can see all [of the opposing pitcher's] pitches."
With the SEC Tournament just three weeks away, it's imperative the Bulldogs continue to improve and end the regular season on a positive streak.
"We just try to get one percent better each and every day," Schlopy said. "We have to take it one game at a time."
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