AUBURN, Ala. – In a repeat performance of Friday night, Nelia Peralta walked off a run-rule victory in sixth innings Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field as Auburn softball (32-21) took down NC State (25-29) 8-0 to wrap up the regular season.
The Tigers used another shutdown pitching performance this time from Haley Rainey (7-4), who shined on Senior Day with a one-hit shutout. She gave up one double and a pair of walks, going the distance for the first time this season. She struck out four in the start.
Four of Auburn’s last five wins have all come via shutouts. Three of the five have been one-hit efforts from the Tiger pitching staff.
“NC State’s strength is its offense,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “The last couple weekends, SJ (Geurin) has stepped up. Haley (Rainey) has been a wildcard lately. If she can get steady and do her thing, she can be a big part of what we need to do down the stretch. They both have different strengths, different looks. It was great to see Haley grit it out today. It was a really solid start. She had great command and was able to bounce back from some little hiccups.”
The Tigers tallied seven hits on Sunday and scored four runs in the sixth to pick up the run-rule win. Peralta went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two RBI. Abbey Smith added a two-run single in the sixth. Icess Tresvik set the Senior Day tone with a solo home run in the second.
Tresvik led off the second inning with her 11th home run of the season to get the Tigers on the board. Amelia Lech drew a one-out walk and worked her way to third before scoring on a Rose Roach single up the middle to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Auburn added a run in the third as Peralta singled up the middle and scored on a KK McCrary double. The fourth frame saw Roach draw a walk before swiping second to move into scoring position. NC State elected to go for the lead out on a groundball back to the circle, but a Wolfpack error allowed Roach to score and give Auburn a 4-0 lead.
That held until the sixth as the Tigers loaded the bases with a pair of walks and an Aubrie Lisenby single. Smith bounced a ball back up the middle for a base hit, driving in two, ahead of Peralta’s game-clinching, two-run double.
UP NEXT
Auburn turns its attention to the postseason as the Tigers open the 2025 SEC Tournament on Tuesday in Athens, Georgia. The (15) Tigers will face (10) Alabama in the third game of the opening round. First pitch will be approximately 6 p.m. CT but may be delayed due to games played prior. All three games of Tuesday’s opening round will be televised on the SEC Network.