The No. 23 Auburn Tigers travel to hostile territory to take on the No. 18 Florida Gators this weekend.
The Gators are coming into this series off of a series loss in Columbia against the South Carolina Gamecocks. On the other hand, the Tigers are coming off a home series victory against the Ole Miss Rebels.
These two teams come into this weekend being at the top of the ranks in opposite sides of the game. The Gators are leading the Southeastern Conference and are seventh overall in average at .338. Auburn on the other hand, is leading the nation in strikeouts in the circle with 316 as a team. No other team has above 300 total strikeouts.
Offensively for the Tigers, nobody has had a bigger impact than Nelia Peralta. Peralta leads the Tigers with a .523 on base percentage and is hitting for a .358 average. Peralta is one of three Tigers to start in every game this season.
Leading the Tigers in the circle is junior Maddie Penta. Penta has contributed to 183 of Auburn’s 316 strikeouts. Penta is third in the nation in strikeouts individually and holds a sub-one ERA at .089.
As a team, Auburn is holding opposing hitters under the Mendoza line at a .198 average. The Tigers will have a challenge on their hands facing off against the SEC’s leading offense, highlighted by Skylar Wallace.
Wallace has been a problem at the plate for opposing teams. Wallace holds the fourth best average in the SEC at .432 and also leads the Gators in home runs with nine on the year. Wallace gets it done on the base paths as well, stealing 20 bags on 21 attempts.
Elizabeth Hightower headlines the Gators pitching staff with a 2.16 ERA with an 11-5 record. Hightower limits opponents bats holding opponents at just .209 average.
The series is set to be a good one, as strength-versus-strength will go head-to-head in the swamp. First pitch of the series is set for 5 P.M. CST Thursday.
