Penta earns second SEC Freshman of the Week honor

AUBURN, Ala. – Tossing her second no-hitter in three weeks, freshman pitcher Maddie Penta was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.
 
Penta was named Co-Freshman of the Week on Feb. 15, following her phenomenal collegiate debut during opening weekend. Penta is the first Auburn Tiger to win multiple SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the same season since Kasey Cooper in 2014. She is the first Auburn pitcher to win the award multiple times in a season since Anna Thompson in 2007.
 
The Chesapeake City, Md., native tossed two complete-game shutouts for Auburn over the Tiger Invite. Penta allowed just four hits and four walks over her 14.0 innings of work, while striking out 27 batters.
 
Auburn's undefeated weekend was highlighted by Penta's lights-out performance against IUPUI. Penta struck out 16 consecutive batters over the first six innings. She carried a perfect game bid into the top of the seventh before issuing a walk. She closed the game with her 17th strikeout to secure her second no-hitter of the season.
 
The right-hander's 17 strikeouts tied for the second most in a single game in Auburn history. She was one shy from the program's record single-game record of 18. She is the first Auburn pitcher to toss multiple no-hitters in the same season since Marcy Harper (2) in 2014. Penta improved to 5-0 in the circle, which is the best start to a freshman campaign since Makayla Martin went 10-0 in 2016.
 
Penta holds a 0.85 earned run average in the circle behind a SEC-leading three shutouts. She has allowed just four earned runs and 12 hits in 33.0 innings pitched. She leads all SEC freshman with 49 strikeouts.