AUBURN, Ala. – Freshman Riley McNemar delivered at the plate in fifth inning as Auburn Softball (5-0) earned its third straight walk-off victory, defeating UMass Lowell (3-2), 8-0, Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field to close the Tiger Invitational undefeated.
The win was Auburn's fourth consecutive run-rule victory as Auburn outscored its opening-weekend opponents, 50-4. Auburn totaled 50 hits over opening weekend, with half going for extra bases.
The sophomore duo of Shelby Lowe and Maddie Penta handled duties in the circle for the Tigers. Left-hander Lowe earned the start and the win, her third of the weekend. Lowe gave up just one hit in her three innings of work. She struck out six.
Tossing the final two innings, Penta worked around two hits and a walk to keep the Riverhawks off the board. Penta fanned four in the relief appearance. The pitching duo combined for 50 strikeouts over opening weekend and issued just three total walks.
Freshman Bri Ellis led Auburn at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Sophomore Makayla Packer slugged her second home run of the season, picking up a pair of RBI in the contest. Freshman Aubrie Lisenby also totaled two RBI and slugged a double in her start behind the plate.
Auburn manufactured runs early as sophomore Sydney Cox, freshman Nelia Peralta and Ellis knocked back-to-back-to-back singles. Ellis drove in the first run of the game with a single to right center. Lisenby delivered the big blow in inning with a two-run double to left center.
Following a one-out walk from junior Carlee McCondichie, Packer slugged her second home run of opening weekend with a drive down the left field line in the bottom of the second. Ellis pushed the lead to 6-0 as she led off the bottom of the third with a solo home off the scoreboard on the 11th pitch of her at-bat.
UMass Lowell had two runners on in the top of the fourth after a single and Auburn error, but sophomore Paige Geraghty preserved the shutout with a sniper shot from right field to throw out a base runner at home to end the inning.
Sophomore Denver Bryant led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the right side, advancing all the way to third off a UMass Lowell error in the outfield. McCondichie brought her home with an RBI single.
With a pair on in the bottom of the fifth, McNemar doubled to left field to plate the eighth run of the game to secure the walk-off win.
Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team
Shelby Lowe, Auburn
Maddie Penta, Auburn
Sydney Cox, Auburn
Makayla Packer, Auburn
Carlee McCondichie, Auburn
Olivia Labbe, UMass Lowell
Ryley White, UMass Lowell
Becca Vaillancourt, UMass Lowell
Abby Wingo, Seton Hall
Shelby Smith, Seton Hall
London Jarrad, St. John's
UP NEXT
A pair of top-10 opponents await the Tigers as Auburn travels to Clearwater, Florida, to compete in the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational Presented by Wilson. Auburn opens the tournament on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. CT against Texas Tech on the SEC Network. The Tigers are also scheduled to face Wisconsin, No. 10 Texas, No. 3 UCLA and USF during the tournament.
