Softball battles AUM in final fall contest

Softball battles AUM in final fall contestSoftball battles AUM in final fall contest
Grayson Belanger/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – In the final contest of the fall exhibition slate, Auburn softball returns to Montgomery Sunday afternoon to face Auburn University at Montgomery.
 
First pitch from the AUM Softball Complex is slated for 12 p.m. CT. The Warhawks, the reigning Gulf South Regular Season Championship, are Auburn's lone Division II opponent during the fall slate.
 
"Sunday is our final chance to compete against an opponent before February's opener," said head coach Mickey Dean. "It's our final chance to tweak our lineups, trying different combinations and give our team time to experience in-game situations. We want to finish strong and carry that momentum into our final weeks of practice."  
 
Heading into the final game of the exhibition slate, sophomore Abbey Smith leads the team with a .583 average. The speedster leads the team with 14 runs scored over seven contests and is a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
 
After a strong showing in Panama City, junior Sydney Cox boasts a .538 average at the plate behind seven hits, including three doubles. Cox is tied with sophomore Bri Ellis for the team lead in RBI as the duo has six each. Ellis put her power on display last weekend with a pair of home runs.
 
One of the most consistent performers at the plate throughout the fall has been Lindsey Garcia. The senior has knocked eight hits, including a pair of doubles, for a .533 average.  
 
Auburn's pitching staff has virtually been untouchable throughout the fall as the quartet holds a 0.14 earned run average with 88 total strikeouts to their credit. The Tigers have through five shutouts through their seven contests.
 
Junior Maddie Penta has seen the most action throughout the fall, allowing no runs and just four hits through 16.0 innings. With an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, Penta has struck out a team-leading 34 while issuing just one walk.
 
Sophomore Annabelle Widra has been solid in the circle and at plate throughout the fall. Holding a .500average with four extra-base hits, the versatile Widra has also tossed 15.0 innings, striking out 27 batters.
This weekend's contest will not be streamed, but fans can stay updated through the Auburn softball Twitter account: @AuburnSoftball.