AUBURN, Ala. – Behind shut-down performances in the circle and an explosion of offense, Auburn softball picked up a pair of wins over Wallace State and Andrew College Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field to open its fall exhibition slate.
Sophomore Shelby Lowe and junior KK Dismukes combined to hold Wallace State to one unearned run as the Tigers knocked off the Lions, 7-1, to open Sunday's doubleheader. Lowe tossed the first four innings, allowing just three hits. She struck out nine of the 16 batters she faced. Dismukes was charged with the lone unearned run. She gave up three hits while striking out six.
Senior Aspyn Godwin went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of solo home runs and a walk. Sophomore Makayla Packer went 3-for-4 with an inside the park home run. Packer added a walk and two runs scored. Junior Carlee McCondichie slugged a pair of doubles in Sunday's opener while junior Maia Engelkes drove in a pair of runs off fielder's choices.
Packer spared the Tiger offense in the bottom of the first with a walk before McCondichie doubled up the middle. Engelkes plated the lone run of the inning with a fielder's choice to shortstop.
Packer extended the Tigers' lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third, leading off the inning with a inside the park home un down the line in right. Freshman Nelia Peralta slugged a triple to right center before scoring off an Engelkes' fielder's choice. Godwin pushed the lead to 4-0 with her solo home run to right center.
Freshman Kenadie Cooper single up the middle to lead off the fourth inning before coming around to score off a double to center from junior Maddie Majors.
Wallace State took advantage off an Auburn error in the fifth inning to plate an unearned run, but Godwin answered in the home half with her second solo home run of the game – a shot to right field – as the Tigers cruised to a 7-1 victory.
Auburn's offense was dominating in game two of the doubleheader as the Tigers totaled 20 hits en route to a 19-1 victory over Andrew College.
Freshman Bri Ellis slugged a double and a three-run homer as she led the team with four RBI. She closed the night 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored. Freshman Rose Roach picked up an RBI and three runs scored after going 4-for-5. Sophomore Sydney Cox picked up three hits, including a double, as she scored three runs and added two RBI.
Freshman Jessie Blaine joined the slugfest with a two-run homer in the first inning, while sophomore Kelsey Schmidt drove in a pair of runs in the fourth with a single to right field.
Sophomore Maddie Penta and senior Samantha Yarbrough split the pitching duties in game two. Penta allowed just one hit in her four innings of work. The right-hander struck out four. Yarbrough tossed the final four innings, allowing just one run during situational defensive work. She struck out 10.
Auburn returns to the field on Sunday, Oct. 3 for a doubleheader against Gulf Coast State College and Snead State Community College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.