AUBURN, Ala. – Allowing just one hit over its first two games of the Jane B. Moore Memorial tournament, No. 20 Auburn softball (18-1) knocked off North Carolina A&T (9-7) and Toledo (3-9) Friday at Jane B. Moore Field to extend its win streak to 10 games.
Over 14 innings of work, the Tiger pitching staff held opponents to one unearned run and one hit while striking out a total of 28.
"Maddie (Penta) came out attacking," said head coach Mickey Dean. "She was attacking, attacking, attacking the zone. KK (Dismukes) used her movement very well. She had all her pitches working, and when that happens, she can hit every quadrant, so the hitters just don't know what to do."
Sophomore Maddie Penta and junior KK Dismukes, in her season debut, were perfect through 6.2 innings against the Aggies as the duo combined for Auburn's 29th no-hitter in Auburn's 5-0 victory. Penta, Dismukes and Lowe battled in the circle to carry Auburn to a 6-1 come-from-behind victory over Toledo.
Penta earned both victories for the Tigers on Friday as the right-hander did not allow a hit in her eight total innings of work. Penta issued just one walk while striking out 16 batters over two games.
"We always talk about putting up crooked numbers because those are hard for opponents to come back from," said Dean. "We put a big, crooked number up there and we won."
It was a duel between starting pitchers Penta and North Carolina A&T's Icess Tresvik as the duo did not allow a hit through the first three innings.
Sophomore Sydney Cox led off the fourth inning with a single up the middle for Auburn's first hit of the contest. Freshman pinch runner Abbey Smith entered the game and moved herself into scoring position off a wild pitch before stealing third. After freshman Bri Ellis drew a walk, junior Lindsey Garcia broke open the game with a three-run homer to left field.
Freshman Aubrie Lisenby also went deep with a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning. With Lisenby's home run, all nine of Auburn's starters have slugged a home run this season.
Junior Carlee McCondichie led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the line in right before advancing to third on a passed ball. McCondichie would score on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Nelia Peralta.
Penta retired the first 15 consecutive batters with help of 11 strikeouts for her fourth double-digit strikeout performance. Dismukes made her season debut in the top of the sixth, striking out the first three batters she faced. In the top of the seventh, Dismukes fielded a ground ball and forced a pop up to second for the first two outs before allowing the first base runner of the game with a walk. Dismukes battled back to end the game with her fourth strikeout.
It was a rough first inning against Toledo as the Rockets led off the game with a hit by pitch. After a wild pitch moved the runner to second, a fielding error by the Tigers allowed another Rocket base runner to reach. Lowe battled back with a strikeout for the second out, but an error during a pickle on a stolen base attempt allowed an unearned run to score.
The Tigers were kept off the board until the fifth inning before turning in a six-run performance in the sixth inning.
Senior Aspyn Godwin led off the inning with a single through the left side that was followed by a double to left center from sophomore Denver Bryant.
After sophomore Makayla Packer loaded the bases with a walk, Cox tied the game as she squeezed home a run on a bunt. Peralta put the Tigers in front as she cleared the bags with a triple. Ellis pushed the Tiger lead to 5-1 with a single to shallow left center. Freshman Jessie Blaine plated the sixth run of the inning with a single to center.
Penta earned the win in relief for the Tigers. Penta allowed just one walk in her three innings of work while striking out five. Penta is now 10-0 in the circle. Lowe was charged with one unearned run while giving up one hit, two walks and a hit by pitch. The leftie struck out eight in four innings. Dismukes also saw time as a reliver in the contest.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns for the second day of competition of at the Jane B. Moore Memorial tournament. The Tigers open their doubleheader at 3 p.m. CT against Toledo before facing North Carolina A&T at 5:30 p.m. CT. Auburn will hold a special pregame ceremony to unveil the Jane B. Moore Endowment for Softball Excellence. The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a free Auburn Softball 25th Anniversary blanket. Fans can bring their men's basketball ticket to Jane B. Moore Field to receive free admission to Saturday's doubleheader.