AUBURN, Ala. – Flexing its muscle at the plate for a second day, Auburn softball (4-0) slugged back-to-back, walk-off home runs to secure a pair of run-rule victories over St. John's and Seton Hall Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field. The Tigers are currently outscoring their Tiger Invitational opponents. 42-4.
"When we swing at strikes, we are a really, really good team," said head coach Mickey Dean. "After we made our adjustments tonight and forced the other pitchers to throw us those strikes, we were able to cut loose."
Freshman Bri Ellis delivered the game-ending shot versus St. John's as her first collegiate home run, a two-run blast, carried Auburn to a 9-0 victory over St. John's (0-4). Junior Carlee McCondichie turned in a multi-hit performance against the Red Storm, going 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBI. Fellow junior, Lindsey Garcia also picked up a pair of hits in the game.
"These games have been a blast," McCondichie said. "We have such great chemistry, and all of these girls are my best friends. It is so much fun to cheer each other on."
Sophomore Maddie Penta went the distance for her first shutout victory of the season. Penta one-hit St. John's in five innings of work. She issued just one walk and struck out seven.
Trailing 1-0 through two innings, Auburn scored nine unanswered runs to defeated Seton Hall, 9-1. Sophomore Denver Bryant delivered the walk-off moon shot in the fifth inning. Bryant finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman Aubrie Lisenby was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. Garcia also drove in a pair of runs against the Pirates.
"It was great to round the bases and see my teammates there waiting for me," Bryant said. "It's so much fun knowing they're all supporting me and have my back."
Sophomore Shelby Lowe tossed the complete game against Seton Hall. Lowe scattered four hits in the game and allowed one unearned run. Lowe fanned six total in the contest.
The Tigers have slugged six home runs through the first four games of the season. All six have come off a bat of a different student-athlete. Tonight's walk-offs were Auburn's first walk-off home runs since Alyssa Rivera versus Georgia State on March 11, 2020, the final game of the 2020 season before the COVID lockdown.
ST JOHN'S SCORING RECAP
Sophomore Makayla Packer led off the game with a double up the middle before swiping third base. Packer would take advantage of a St. John's miscue on a fly ball to center to score the first run of the game.
With freshman Jessie Blaine on via a single, McCondichie cleared the bases with her first collegiate triple.
After a quiet third inning, Lisenby led off the fourth inning with a walk and was lifted for sophomore pinch runner Paige Geraghty. Garcia singled to left to put runners on the corners before moving herself into scoring position on a stolen base.
Bryant beat out a perfect bunt single back to the pitcher to plate Geraghty. McCondichie pushed the lead to 5-0 as she cleared the bags once again with a single up the middle.
Freshman pinch hitter Rose Roach got on board in the bottom of the fifth with a hit by pitch. Following a fielder's choice with no outs recorded and a St. John's error, the bags were loaded. Garcia picked up an RBI with a single to third base. An error during the play allowed a second Auburn run to score.
Ellis, in a pinch-hit appearance, knocked her two-run homer to left field to end the game.
SETON HALL SCORING RECAP
Janae Barracato led off the game, reaching safely with help of an Auburn throwing error. Following a sacrifice bunt, Shelby Smith doubled the unearned run home.
Auburn was kept off the scoreboard until the third inning. With two outs, Packer was hit by the first pitch of her at-bat. After stealing second, Packer moved to third on a passed ball.
Sophomore Sydney Cox tied the game with a double to center field. Peralta put the Tigers in front with a single through the left side that allowed freshman pinch runner Kenadie Cooper to score.
Lisenby led off the fourth with a double to right center before coming around to score on a Garcia single up the middle. Senior Aspyn Godwin moved Garcia into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Bryant would put runners on the corners with a single to center.
McCondichie would reach on a fielder's choice. Seton Hall would get the force out of Bryant at second base, but obstruction at home plate allowed Garcia to score.
The Tigers used two-out magic in the fifth to end the game. Ellis sparked the scoring run with a two-out double to deep right field. Lisenby singled up the middle to score freshman pinch runner Abbey Smith. Garcia followed with a triple to center to clear the bases before scoring herself on a wild pitch. With Godwin on board via a walk, Bryant called game with a monster home run to left center.
UP NEXT
Auburn closes the Tiger Invitational on Sunday versus UMass Lowell. First pitch at Jane B. Moore Field is set for 12:30 p.m. CT.
