AUBURN, Ala. – Continuing its undefeated streak at Jane B. Moore Field, No. 24 Auburn softball improved to 13-1 with a doubleheader sweep of Southern Miss Friday night in the second day of competition at the Auburn Invitational.
"We have to have quality at-bats, not at-bats that are outcome driven," said head coach Mickey Dean. "When we string multiple quality at-bats together, then we'll see the offensive results that we want."
The Tigers used a three-run first inning to jump out to an early lead in game one against the Golden Eagles (11-7). A three-run home run in the sixth inning cut the Tiger lead to two, but sophomore KK Dismukes put the game on ice with her third save of the season.
Sophomore Lindsey Garcia recorded her first multi-hit game of her career, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a career high two RBI. Senior Makenna Dowell also turned in a two-hit performance in game one, scoring two runs.
Freshman Maddie Penta earned the win to improve to 6-0 in the circle. In five innings of work, she held the Golden Eagles to two hits while issuing three walks. Penta allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and struck out five.
In her two innings of relief, Dismukes struck out four of the six batters she faced and did not allow a hit.
Freshman Shelby Lowe turned in a dominant performance in game two, holding Southern Miss to one unearned run, as Auburn improved to 11-0 at Jane B. Moore Field with a 2-1 victory.
Lowe gave up five hits in her complete-game performance. She struck out 11 while not issuing a free pass at the plate.
Graduate student Alyssa Rivera drove in both runs for the Tigers with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to center.
"It felt good to drive in both runs, but it doesn't matter who drove them in," said Rivera. "What matters is that we left with a team win."
GAME ONE RECAP
Dowell led off the bottom of the first with a single to the pitcher before advancing to second on a throwing error. Freshman Sydney Cox and junior Aspyn Godwin loaded up the bases with walks.
Freshman Kelsey Schmidt drove in the first run of the game with a ground ball to third. Garcia made it a 3-0 game with a two-out single to second.
After leading off the top of the fourth with a walk, a one-out throwing error by the Tigers put runners on the corners. Southern Miss plated an unearned run with a ground ball to third.
Senior Tyler King and Dowell struck in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back, one-out singles before moving up 60 feet each with a double steal. King would score on a sacrifice fly to left from Cox.
After Dowell swiped third, freshman Makayla Packer drove her in with an infield single to third base. Godwin made it a 6-1 game with an RBI single to right field.
With two on via a walk and single, Hannah Borden cut the lead to two with a three-run home run to left center.
Dismukes would enter the game in relief and held the Golden Eagles hitless in her third save of the season.
GAME TWO RECAP
After a scoreless first, Schmidt led off the second inning, reaching on a fielding error. With two on after a Garcia walk, Rivera singled to center to drive in the first run of the game.
The two teams traded a scoreless third inning before Auburn added to its lead in the fourth as Godwin led off the inning with a triple to right center. Garcia reached via a hit by pitch to put runners on the corners.
Rivera capitalized yet again with a fly ball to center to push the lead to 2-0 with the sacrifice fly.
Auburn loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with three straight singles, but a double play and strike out kept the Tigers off the board.
Southern Miss got a runner on via an Auburn error with one out in the top of the sixth. A single to center from Borden drove in the unearned run to cut the lead to 2-1.
With the game on the line, Lowe struck out the side for her fourth win of her freshman campaign
TIGER TRACKS
- Justus Perry is just three putouts shy from becoming the sixth Tiger to record 1,000 career putouts.
- Shelby Lowe's scoreless innings streak ended at 24.1 consecutive innings, which was the eighth longest streak in program history.
- Shelby Lowe has now struck out at least 10 batters in three of her five starts.
- Lindsey Garcia set career highs in hits (2) and RBI (2) and slugged her first double of the season.
- With her third triple of the season, Aspyn Godwin stands tied for fifth in single-season history.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will wrap up the Auburn Invitational on Saturday with a doubleheader against Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.