AUBURN, Ala. – Already claiming Preseason All-SEC honors, Bri Ellis added another preseason accolade as D1 Softball ranked the sophomore the No. 5 first baseman in the country, topping the list as the highest ranked player from the Southeastern Conference.
 
The most powerful bat in the Tiger lineup, 20 of Ellis's 45 hits were home runs. She led all SEC freshmen and ranked third in the conference in both total home runs and home runs per game (0.36). Her home run total was good for 13th in Division I softball. 
 
Ellis was just the second Auburn freshman in program history to slug at least 10 home runs in their debut season. The Houston, Texas, native surpassed three-time Auburn All-American Kasey Cooper for the program's freshman record. Ellis closed her freshman campaign tied for the second most home runs hit in a single season at Auburn.  
 
Adding eight doubles and a triple to her power numbers, Ellis closed the season tied for fifth in Auburn single-season history with a .772 slugging percentage. The mark is the seventh highest slugging clip among SEC hitters. She led the team with 49 RBI and added 32 runs scored.
 
Auburn opens its 2023 season traveling to Clearwater, Florida to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Tigers open the season with a twin billing on Friday, Feb. 10, taking on St. John's at 12:30 p.m. CT before facing Fordham at 3 p.m. CT.