AUBURN | No. 13 Auburn softball will open the season Thursday with a doubleheader, two of seven games in four days under first-year head coach Mickey Dean.

Dean, who was 237-56 in five years at James Madison, takes over a program that has hosted a Super Regional three-straight seasons.

“Consistency and communication, and then offensively we want to be able to make adjustments. That’s kind of my goals for this team this weekend,” Dean said.

The Tigers will field a squad with just three seniors — centerfielder Vic Draper, catcher Courtney Shea and All-American pitcher Kaylee Carlson. Draper hit .340 with 54 runs scored and nine stolen bases, Shea hit .243 with five home runs and 33 RBI and Carlson was 27-5 with 1.36 ERA last season.

Other key players returning sophomore outfielder include Alyssa Rivera, who hit .371 with 28 RBI, junior infielder Kendall Veach, who hit .237 with 12 home runs and 44 RBI, junior infielder Casey McCrackin, who hit .250 with four home runs and 14 RBI, and junior pitcher Makayla Martin, who was 20-6 with a 1.98 ERA.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a while now so being able to start finally, we’re so ready for it, so excited,” McCrackin said.

Dean, who works firsthand with the pitching staff, puts more emphasis on strikeouts. He’s worked to increase the staff’s velocity and use of a rise ball. Auburn’s pitchers combined for 306 strikeouts last season while JMU ace Megan Good had 271 on her own a year ago.

“They’re definitely throwing harder. I can tell you that,” Shea said. “I can definitely feel it in my hand.”

Thursday should mark the return of Tannon Snow, who missed all of last season with an illness. She is expected to be the Tigers’ designated player this season while her younger sister, Taylon, is expected to be the starting shortstop.

“Since (Tannon’s) come back in January, there’s a lot more consistency there and you can really see it in her at bats. Her confidence is there, her swing is there. She looks like a completely different ballplayer,” Dean said.

Auburn will play Marshall and Wichita State Thursday starting at 3 p.m. CT, and Tennessee Tech and Furman starting Friday at 2 p.m. in the Plainsman Invitational at Jane B. Moore Field. Weather permitting, Auburn will play more games Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday's doubleheader will not be televised. All games Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast on SECN+.

“I’m in a much different mainframe than I was three weeks ago,” Dean said. “Three weeks ago, I was worried about who could get the job done and now they’re stepping it up a little bit and making it more difficult to do a starting lineup because you’ve got some kids that have stepped up and are ready. That’s a good problem to have.”