Sophomore slump?

Auburn first baseman Amber Harrison said Thursday she hadn’t heard of the term.

“I don’t want to hear that, actually,” Harrison said with a smile.

She’s certainly had some adept earmuffs to start her second season at the heart of Auburn’s batting order.

Harrison, who is just four RBI short of her total for all of last year and has eight in the past two games, will hope to carry that early-season momentum into this weekend’s Tiger Invitational at Jane B. Moore Field.

The Tigers host Ohio today at 5:30 p.m., play two games Saturday against Central Michigan and Nebraska and wrap up the annual event with a 2 p.m. game Sunday against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

“She’s one more year experienced and just is carrying a lot of confidence at the plate with her,” coach Tina Deese said. “Let’s hope that continues.”

Deese offered up an interesting theory as to why Harrison, who is currently batting .333 with those 10 RBI and a grand slam, hasn’t regressed during her second season like a number of players tend to do.

Harrison started 48 of Auburn’s 59 games in 2009, but wasn’t spectacular by any means.

She hit .225 with three home runs and 14 RBI on an Auburn team that labored to generate offense during conference play.

That, perhaps, has driven Harrison to improve as much as she has, Deese said.

“They talk about the sophomore slump and you generally see that from freshmen that had outstanding freshman years,” Deese said. “Maybe that’s a good thing for Amber. Although she did well, she wasn’t an all-conference standout or anything like that.”

Harrison has a tough time separating herself from softball even when she returns to her home in Claremore, Okla. Awaiting her there is a hitting machine, batting tees and her father, Mike, who played three years of college ball at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Deese said Harrison came back from Christmas break comfortable and sound at the plate. It wasn’t from rest and relaxation, either.

“He has coached me since I was about 10,” Harrison said. “So it’s easy to listen to him and easy to let him coach me.”

Harrison can also credit the competition at her position this season, which really wasn’t around in 2009.

Though it’s likely not an issue anymore because of Harrison’s hot streak and third baseman Kelsey Cartwright having to deal with nagging injuries, Harrison and Kelley Smiley are both capable of playing first base. And even though both are regulars in the lineup, Deese said it
provided “enough pressure to know that she can’t get too comfortable.”

Smiley, though, will likely play at shortstop this weekend, Kyndall White will shift to third and Cartwright will DH, Deese said, in hopes of giving Cartwright time to rest and recuperate.

That leaves Harrison all alone at first base, where she’s had no trouble holding down a job so far this season.

“We know what she’s capable of and we know what she can do,” Deese said. “Maybe she’s hit her pace where she’s nice and relaxed and can get it out there and get it done.”

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