AUBURN, Ala. – In its 10th run-rule victory of the 2022 season, No. 20 Auburn softball (21-1) defeated Chattanooga (9-10) in five innings, 12-1, Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field to extend its win streak to 13 consecutive games and sweep the Jane B. Moore Memorial tournament.
With the run-rule victory, Auburn has outscored its opponents 164 to 29. The Tigers remain undefeated at home with a 15-0 record after the sweep.
"We were able to put up crooked numbers in three of the four innings, today," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We've been trying to give our younger players as many at-bats and as innings as possible, which isn't always easy. We want to keep building on things we do well and correct the areas we need to improve. We've got one more chance to tune up before conference play."
Continuing her incredible week in the circle, sophomore Maddie Penta earned her sixth win in five days as she improved to 13-0. In three innings, Penta gave up two hits and a walk while striking out five.
The run snapped Penta's consecutive scoreless inning streak at 25.2 innings, which ties Holly Currie for the fifth longest streak in program history.
Penta was tabbed the Jane B. Moore Memorial's Most Valuable Player after earning all five victories for the Tigers. Over the tournament, Penta held a 0.37 ERA and allowed just one run, four hits and two walks in 19.0 innings. She struck out 38 batters and held opponents to a .068 average at the plate.
Joining Penta on the Jane B. Moore Memorial All-Tournament Team were junior Carlee McCondichie, sophomore Sydney Cox and freshmen Nelia Peralta and Rose Roach.
Eighteen different Tigers made an appearance at the plate as Auburn scored its 12 runs off 10 hits. Cox turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a pair of runs scored. Sophomore Denver Bryant went 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBI off her third home run of the season. Freshman Riley McNemar also turned in a multi-RBI performance as she knocked a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs.
Cox and freshman Nelia Peralta opened Auburn's offense in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of singles. Freshman Jessie Blaine put Auburn on the board with a double to center to drive in a run.
Wild pitches plagued the Mocs as a wild pitch on what would have been a strikeout to end the inning allowed freshman Bri Ellis to reach safely. Auburn used two more wild pitches to plate runs and extend its lead to 3-0.
Senior Aspyn Godwin kept the wild first inning alive with a two-out double to right center field to drive in a run before Bryant homered to right center to put Auburn up 6-0.
Auburn used a single and a pair of walks to load the bases in the bottom of the second, but the Mocs looked poised to leave the bags loaded after back-to-back pop ups. Godwin knocked a ground ball to short, but the Mocs booted the ball to allow two Tiger runs to score.
Penta fanned the first two batters in the top of the third, but a single and Kailey Snell triple brought home Chattanooga's lone run of the game.
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the fourth as freshman Rose Roach led off the inning with a single to center. With junior Maia Engelkes also on board via a hit by pitch, sophomore Kelsey Schmidt knocked a single to deep shot to plate a run before an overthrow at first base allowed every one to move up an extra base.
Freshman Aubrie Lisenby pushed Auburn's lead to 10-1 with a sacrifice fly to deep right field before McNemar dropped the hammer with her double to left center.
UP NEXT
In the final test before opening conference play, Auburn will make the short trek to Montgomery, Ala., to face Alabama State on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.
