AUBURN, Ala. – Picking up where they left off last season sophomores Maddie Penta and Shelby Lowe set the tone in the circle for Auburn softball (2-0), but it was the offense that was just as impressive as the Tigers exploded for 24 runs in a doubleheader sweep to open the season and the Tiger Invitational at Jane B. Moore Field.
After not surpassing double-digit runs once in 2021, Auburn's revamped offense flexed for double-digit efforts in back-to-back games to open the season. The Tigers opened the season with a 10-3 victory Seton Hall (0-2) before knocking off St. John's (0-2), 14-0, in five innings. Auburn totaled 21 hits across the doubleheader, 12 of which went for extra bases.
Freshman Nelia Peralta led the Tigers at the plate against the Pirates. In her first collegiate start, the shortstop went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Sophomore centerfielder Makayla Packer also slugged a home run against Seton Hall, while sophomore Sydney Cox drove in a pair of runs.
Cox was the heart of Auburn's offense in game two as she was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles, a home run and four RBI. It marked the first time a Tiger had recorded at least three doubles in a game since Brooke Lanthan vs. No. 14 UCLA on March 3, 2012.
"We played with intention," head coach Mickey Dean said. "They swung the bat with intent. I was proud to see such a young team take what I told them after the first game and put it to use in the second game."
It was no surprise that Penta and Lowe both looked strong in their debuts in the circle.
Penta started against Seton Hall, striking out 16 of the 27 batters that she faced. The total was one shy off her career high. Penta went the distance, giving up just four hits and a walk. Only two of the three runs Penta was charged with were earned.
Lowe tossed the program's 28th no-hitter with her effort against St. John's. It was the first no-hitter in the left-hander's career. In her five innings of work, Lowe struck out 11 total. St. John's had two base runners in the first inning via a hit by pitch and an Auburn error before Lowe retired 13 consecutive batters she faced.
"Something coach Dean always preaches is for us to make our teammates' successes bigger than our own," Lowe said. "Tonight, we all had each other's backs and it resulted in great success."
A total of three Auburn freshman earned their first collegiate starts over the doubleheader. Junior Maddie Majors rounded out the first-time starters for the Tigers, holding down first base against Seton Hall.
SETON HALL SCORING RECAP
Packer broke out the scoring on the second pitch of her at-bat to lead off the first inning with a solo home run to center. Following a walk to Cox, Peralta knocked a single to right to pick up her collegiate RBI. Freshman Jessie Blaine cleared with her first collegiate hit, a double to left center.
The Tigers put two on with one out in the bottom of the second, before Cox cleared the bags with a triple to right center. Cox would score on a wild pitch to push Auburn's lead to 6-0. Junior Lindsey Garcia scored Auburn's lone run in the third after getting on board via a walk. Garcia would swipe second and third before scoring on a passed ball.
An Auburn defensive error proved costly in the fourth inning as the run ultimately came round to score on a pass ball to cut the Auburn lead to 7-1. The Tigers responded in the home half of the inning, using free passes to get a pair on before a Peralta grounder to short plated a run.
After a quiet fifth, Seton Hall answered with a two-run home run from Shelby Smith. Peralta countered with a two-run blast of her own in the bottom of the fifth for the final runs of the game.
ST JOHN'S SCORING RECAP
Packer once again generated the first run of the game. After getting on board via a walk, Packer stole a pair of bases and scored on a fielding error on a throw down at third base. Cox pushed the lead to 2-0 with her solo homer to right field. With Peralta on board off a single, senior Aspyn Godwin slugged a monster home run over the scoreboard at Jane B. Moore Field to extend Auburn's lead to 4-0.
With Blaine on board with a single, sophomore Denver Bryant closed the five-run first with an RBI triple to center.
Leading off the second inning, Packer singled to center before scoring on Cox's first double of the game. A throwing error on a St. John's outfielder would allow Cox to score safely later in the inning, putting Auburn up 7-0.
Starting at first base for the evening contest, freshman Bri Ellis first collegiate hit was a double in the bottom of the third. Junior Carlee McCondichie a perfectly placed single up the middle to bring home Ellis. With a pair on, Packer cleared the bases with a triple to right field.
Cox's second double of the contest scored pinch runner freshman Abbey Smith. Garcia plated the fifth and final run of the fifth with a single through the right side.
Auburn plated two runs in the fourth. The first was manufactured with a pair of St. John's errors before the third RBI double of the game from Cox plated the 14th and final run of the game.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field on Saturday for a rematch with both Seton Hall and St. John's to continue the Tiger Invitational. Auburn will face St. John's at 2:30 p.m. CT before battling Seton Hall at 5 p.m. CT.