Auburn Softball Travels to Alabama for first time in Myers Era

Clint Myers will coach his first series at Alabama in his career this weekend. (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Dakota Sumpter)

No, the headline is not a joke. The #9 Auburn Tigers will make their first trip to Tuscaloosa in the Clint Myers era this weekend to face the #14 Alabama Crimson Tide at Rhoads Stadium. Since Myers’ first year at Auburn in 2014, Auburn and Alabama have met seven times. Three times in the SEC Tournament, a three-game series at Auburn in 2015, and one game in Montgomery. Auburn holds a 4-3 advantage over Alabama in those seven games. This will also be the first time that Myers has coached, or has even attended, a softball game at the University of Alabama. For advice, he reached out to a former player. “Emily Carosone came in the office today. I was asking her questions because no one associated with our program has ever been to Tuscaloosa to the softball field to play a game,” said the 12-year softball coaching veteran. “(Carosone) said, “Coach, you’re going to find it quite interesting.” Although Myers is still new to the rivalry, he has experience with heated battles in the past. “We had a pretty good rivalry with Arizona State and Arizona, it could be kind of mean at times. I’m anxious to see what’s going to happen, and how it is. We are anticipating 3 or 4,000 people (at Rhoads Stadium). That’s going to be pretty awesome.” This rivalry is explained accurately by catcher Courtney Shea, a Mountain Brook native. She says that she has friends who attend the University of Alabama, and is expecting them to come out and watch the series. “They say that they will cheer for me, but kind of hope that we lose.” While no one wearing orange and blue has played a game at Rhoads Stadium, a handful of players have taken in the atmosphere a time or two prior to their enrollment at Auburn University, including senior Sydne Waldrop. “Growing up in Alabama, I have been to their stadium and have seen games. I’ve seen the atmosphere and I have grown up with the rivalry. It’s really cool that my last series ever, that’s where we are going to be playing.” For many Alabama natives on the Auburn Softball roster, grabbing a series win on the road at a tough venue will put the icing on the cake to another productive season. But, for infielder and Tuscaloosa native KK Crocker, it has a different meaning. “I’m definitely excited to play in front of my friends back home from High School, and my family. I have family from Gulf Shores and Selma coming down, who haven’t seen me play a lot.” #9 Auburn Softball is ready to do battle with #14 Alabama at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2013 beginning Friday night at 7 P.M.