AUBURN, Ala. – Behind shutdown innings from the Tiger pitching staff and big swings at the plate, Auburn softball closed its fall exhibition slate undefeated with a Sunday doubleheader sweep of Valdosta State and Chipola College.
Auburn opened Sunday's sweep with an 11-2 victory over Valdosta State. It was the offensive power of the freshmen class that carried Auburn to a victory.
Freshman Nelia Peralta led off the home half of the inning with a walk before coming around to score in an RBI single to center from fellow freshman Bri Ellis.
It was a four-run second inning for the Tigers. Freshman Rose Roach sparked the onslaught with a single to center before coming around to score on a double from sophomore Kelsey Schmidt. Sophomore Sydney Cox drove in a run with a single before the Tigers loaded the bases with a single from junior Carlee McCondichie and a walk. Freshman Aubrie Lisenby delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run single to center.
Sophomore Shelby Lowe earned the start in the circle against Valdosta State. In her three innings of work, Lowe allowed a lone single while striking out six.
The third inning feature a second four-spot from the Auburn offense. Peralta did the damage with a bases-loaded double to clear bags and extend the Tiger lead to 9-0.
Junior Lindsey Garcia led off the fourth inning with walk and worked her way to third with help of a steal. Schmidt would drive her in with a sacrifice fly to center.
Sophomore Maddie Penta tossed the fourth and fifth innings for the Tigers. Penta worked around two singles and a pair of hit batters to hang zeros on the board. She struck out four.
Leading off the home half of the fifth with double from junior Maddie Majors, sophomore Reena Falisi extended the Tiger lead to 11-0 with an RBI single.
Sophomore KK Dismukes took over in the circle fifth. After and infield single and a one-out walk, an Auburn error allowed a pair of runs to score. Dismukes would respond in the sixth inning, retiring the side in order. Senior Samantha Yarbrough tossed the seventh, retiring the side in order with a pair of strikeouts.
After four close innings, it was the big bat of Garcia that broke open the fall finale as the Tigers took down Chipola, 10-1.
Auburn jumped out to an early lead as Lisenby roped a two-out single to left to score sophomore Makayla Packer, who reached via a single of her own. In the second inning, Auburn took advantage of a walk issued to freshman Rose Roach as Cox slugged a double to right field to extend to lead to 2-0.
Chipola free passes led to the third Auburn run in the fourth inning, as Cox picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly. The Tigers offense exploded in the fifth inning, pushing five across home plate courtesy of RBI singles from Peralta and Ellis and a three-run bomb to center from Garcia.
Moving to situational defense, the Indians started the six inning with a runner on second base. Chipola used an infield single to cut the Tiger lead to 8-1. Auburn plated the final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth with help of a Chipola error and a sacrifice fly from Ellis.
Yarbrough started against the Indians, tossing a pair of innings. The senior allowed two hits and struck out a total of five batters. Penta handled the middle three innings and was charged with a lone hit. She struck out two in the appearance.
Dismukes tossed the final two innings and was charged with an unearned run. She gave up just one hit and struck out two.