AUBURN, Ala. – Friday marked another lights-out performance by the Auburn softball pitching staff as the Tigers remained undefeated at Jane B. Moore Field with a doubleheader sweep of Murray State in the second day of competition at the Tiger Invite.
Freshman Shelby Lowe was one out from perfection as she retired 20 straight batters in a one-hit performance against the Racers (2-9). Lowe recorded a career high 12 strikeouts in her first collegiate shutout to improve to 2-0. Junior Aspyn Godwin knocked the game-winning hit with a RBI double in the fourth innings as the Tigers (8-1) claimed a 1-0 victory.
"I felt good," Lowe said of her near-perfect performance. "My stuff was moving well today, and the team played really, really good defense behind me."
The Tigers just needed a three-run second innings to secure the sweep behind the pitching combo of redshirt senior Lexie Handley and sophomore KK Dismukes. Auburn moved on to 6-0 at home with its 3-1 win.
Handley picked up her first win in the circle, tossing 5.1 innings against the Racers in game two. She allowed just one run off three hits and two walks while striking out five. Dismukes earned her second save of the year. She struck out two in her 1.2 innings pitched.
Auburn's pitching staff combined for a 0.50 earned run average over Friday's doubleheader. The Tigers struck out 19 total batters and held Murray State to a .089 average at the plate.
"The numbers don't lie," said head coach Mickey Dean. "Our pitchers and defense did an outstanding job."
GAME ONE RECAP
Through six innings, Lowe retired 18 consecutive batters with 10 strikeouts to her credit. The freshman retired her 19th straight batter with strikeout. Freshman Makayla Packer made a phenomenal diving catch in center to keep the perfect game bid alive.
Down to their last strike, Murray State knocked a ball in a hole towards second base. Freshman Sydney Cox made a drive to keep the ball from the outfield. She fired to first, but the Racers beat out the throw by one step, ending the perfect game with an infield single.
Lowe retired the final batter with her career high 12th strikeout.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as senior Tyler King led off the inning with a hit by pitch before swiping second base. With two outs, Godwin roped a double to right field to plate Auburn's lone run of the game.
GAME TWO RECAP
After a scoreless first inning, Godwin led off the bottom of the second with a walk and was lifted for pinch runner senior Kaylee Horton. Freshman Kelsey Schmidt reached on a text-book bunt that died in front of home plate.
Auburn used another two-out rally to plate its three runs in the innings, freshman Lindsay Garcia singled to right center to begin the scoring onslaught. After Garcia swiped second to move into scoring position, a wild pitch plated Schmidt. Senior Makenna Dowell made it a 3-0 game with an RBI single through the left side.
Murray State answered in the top of the third, leading off with a double down the line in right and a bunt[TS1] single. Auburn answered with a 4-6-3 double play, but the Racers were able to bring a run home on the play.
Handley and Dismukes tag-teamed in the circle over the final four innings, allowing just three base runners to reach.
TIGER TRACKS
- Graduate student Alyssa Rivera made her 200th career appearance in an Auburn uniform with her start in game one.
- Freshman Shelby Lowe improved to 2-0 with her first complete-game shutout. She struck out a career high 12 in the outing.
- Freshman Sydney Cox slugged her first collegiate double in game one of Friday's doubleheader.
UP NEXT
Auburn will wrap up the Tiger Invite on Saturday with a doubleheader against IUPUI. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.