Lineup nearly set for No. 2 Auburn

AUBURN | The starting lineup is just about set for No. 2 Auburn’s season opener against No. 1 Oklahoma in a rematch of last year’s national championship series.

One impact newcomer is not expected to be available for the Tigers’ trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and games against the Sooners, No. 13 Washington, Nebraska and BYU.

Washington transfer Tannon Snow has missed the last few practices with an illness.

“When she’s ready she’ll be out there,” Auburn coach Clint Myers said. “She’s a great player and she’s a great kid, but her health is more important than anything else right now so we just got to get her healthy.”

Starting at first base in place of Snow will be sophomore Kendall Veach, who has been one of the Tigers’ top performers during preseason practice.

Auburn returns six starters and its top two pitchers from last season. The biggest remaining position battle is at second base where sophomore Casey McCrackin and freshman KK Crocker are competing to replace All-American Emily Carosone.

“We had Crack out there (Friday) and we had KK (Saturday),” Myers said. “It’s going to be one or the other there. It’s just a matter of who can handle both ends of it. That’s really the only undetermined spot.”

McCrackin hit .310 in 35 appearances as a freshman last season. Crocker joined the team this fall after earning All-State honors for two straight seasons at Hillcrest in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“Either way I feel like me and Crack both have been working really hard this offseason and the competition is fun at second base,” Crocker said. “At the same time, we’re playing for the same goal so whoever gets put out there we’re going to cheer each other on and play Auburn softball.”

All-American Kasey Cooper returns at third base, Haley Fagan is back healthy and will play shortstop, and Carlee Wallace and Courtney Shea will split time at catcher.

In the outfield, Whitney Jordan will be in right field, Victoria Draper in center and one of three players could start in left field. Returning starter Madi Gipson, a junior, is battling freshman Carmyn Greenwood and sophomore Morgan Podany.

Myers expects all three to start at least one game in left field during the opening four games.

“We can do matchups based on who Oklahoma, Washington, Nebraska and BYU throws,” he said. “A couple of them handle the up pitch better than the other ones and we don’t lose a whole lot on defense.”

On the mound, sophomore Makayla Martin will get the start against the Sooners while junior Kaylee Carlson will face the Huskies.

First pitch against Oklahoma Thursday is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU followed by the Washington game at 7 p.m. The Tigers will play Nebraska Friday at 2 p.m. and BYU Saturday at 10 a.m.