AUBURN, Ala. – Offense came to play on a chilly Friday night at Jane B. Moore Field as No. 21 Auburn softball (6-1) knocked off Austin Peay and Villanova with a pair of run-rule victories at Jane B. Moore Field to open the Tiger Invitational.
Plating eight runs in the second inning, Auburn routed Austin Peay (1-4) by an 11-1 final in the Tigers' opening contest. Sophomore Maddie Penta led the way in the circle against the Wildcats (4-2) to pick up the fifth shutout win of the season for the Tiger pitching staff. Senior Maia Engelkes came up with the walk-off fielder's choice as Auburn knocked off Villanova 8-0. Both contests ended in five innings.
"Offensively, we did a good job of moving our runners and getting clutch hits with runners on base," said head coach Mickey Dean. "I also thought all our pitchers did a good job today. They got settled in and started working ahead and so it was smooth sailing."
At the plate, Bri Ellis and Nelia Peralta led the offense as the duo both closed the night 3-for-4 at the plate. Peralta was one of three Tigers to record three RBI across Friday's doubleheader, joining Lindsey Garcia and Aspyn Godwin. Godwin, Garcia and Peralta all slugged home runs on Friday night.
Annabelle Widra earned the victory over the Governors to improve to 2-0. Widra allowed one hit and an unearned run over her three innings of work while striking out four. Emmah Rolfe and Icess Tresvik both toss scoreless frames in the win.
Penta was once again virtually untouchable in the circle. Over four innings of work, Penta fanned nine batters and allowed a lone hit. Shelby Lowe tossed the final frame, striking out two as she retired the side in order.
"I don't feel like I was at my best today, but this team was there for me," said Penta. "They had my back like they always do, so I knew we were ready to go."
Auburn continued its trend of first inning offense against the Governors. Peralta and Ellis set the table with a pair of singles. Aspyn Godwin put the Tigers on the scoreboard with her team-leading third home run of the season.
"This year, my main focus is to stay relaxed and stay confident and be there when my team needs me," Godwin said. "I saw that pitch right where I like it, and I took it for a ride."
Three straight singles from the bottom of the order set the table for the Tigers in the second. Peralta, Carlee McCondichie and Bri Ellis kept the hit streak moving as the trio connected with three straight singles to plate four runs.
Auburn took advantage of an Austin Peay miscue to scratch across the fifth run of the second inning before Garcia delivered the big boom with a three-run homer to right field to give Auburn an 11-0 advantage after two.
A pair of Tiger errors in the top of the third proved costly as the Governors manufactured an unearned run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 11-1. The Governors had another scoring chance in the fourth, but a heads up play from McCondichie to flip back to first on a pop up retired the side with a double play.
Tresvik entered the game in the fifth, tossing a perfect frame to freeze the Governors and preserve the 11-1 victory.
First-inning offense came into play against Villanova during Friday's nightcap. Perata led of the game for the Tigers with a solo home run.
KK McCrary plated the second run of the game all by herself. After leading off the second inning with a single, McCrary swiped second before taking third on an overthrow to the bag. She'd come around to score on a wild pitch. Tresvik extended the lead to 3-0, driving in a run off a ground ball to short.
The Tigers broke up the scoring in the bottom of the third. McCondichie led off the inning, legging out a bunt single back to the circle before advancing to second on an errant throw. Ellis drove her in with a single to left.
Using a fielder's choice and a pair of singles to load the bases, Jessie Blaine traded another out for run on a grounder to second. Making her return to the lineup during Friday's doubleheader, Denver Bryant pushed the lead to 7-0 as she cleared the bags with a single to right center.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth with a pair of singles to move the winning run into scoring position, Engelkes drove a ball to third base. The Wildcats tried to make the play at the plate, but Garcia scored safely as the Tigers walked off their third consecutive walk-off victory.
Auburn returns to the diamond on Saturday with a doubleheader slate against Villanova and Dayton. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. Both contests are available on the SEC Network+.