AUBURN, Ala. – Knocking off Texas A&M (15-8, 0-3 SEC) in Sunday's doubleheader finale at Jane B. Moore Field, No. 20 Auburn softball (24-1, 3-0 SEC) swept its first Southeastern Conference series since 2019.
"We played extremely well, as far as sticking together," said head coach Mickey Dean. "They may have out-hit us, but our hits were harder, and that's what we've been working on."
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth inning, Auburn mounted a comeback with help of a two-run homer from junior Lindsey Garcia to clinch the series with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory. Auburn's offense came to life in the series final as the Tigers scored eight runs off seven hits to win 8-5 and secure the sweep.
Auburn extended its win streak to 16 consecutive games with the victory and remains undefeated at home with am 18-0 record. The sweep as Auburn's first in conference play since 2019 when Auburn opened league action with a sweep of the Aggies at Jane B. Moore Field.
Sophomore Sydney Cox and freshman Jessie Blaine led the Tigers at the plate in Sunday's doubleheader as the duo both went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs each. Cox slugged two extra base hits with a double and solo home run. Blaine also went yard with a two-run homer in game two.
"I had a lot of walks this weekend," said Blaine. "As long as I'm doing my job and getting on base, I know my teammates behind me in the lineup will knock me in. Our ultimate goal is to win the game, and we'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that."
In the circle, sophomore Shelby Lowe led the Tigers as she earned a save and a victory in relief. Over 5.2 innings pitched during Sunday's doubleheader, Lowe allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out five and did not give up a run.
GAME ONE SCORING RECAP
Auburn jumped on the board in the first inning with a solo home run from Cox to center. Rylen Wiggens tied the game in the top of the fourth with a solo home to left.
The Aggies would take the lead in the top of the fifth as Haley Lee knocked a two-run homer to center field.
Auburn immediately responded with two-out rally in bottom of the inning. After Cox drew a walk, freshman Nelia Peralta doubled her home with a liner off the wall in left center. With Blaine on board via a walk, Garcia picked up her fourth and fifth RBI of the series with a double off the top of the wall in left.
Lowe entered the game in sixth inning and held the Aggies to two hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts for her fourth save of the season. Sophomore Maddie Penta picked up her eighth consecutive win in the contest. Penta tossed five innings, giving up five hits, a walk and three earned runs. Penta fanned eight Aggies in the win. Penta remains undefeated in the circle with a 15-0 record.
GAME TWO SCORING RECAP
The Tigers sent all nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Makayla Packer led off with a walk before scoring on Cox's double to left center. With runners on the corners, Blaine drove a ground ball to second base. The Aggies went for the out at home, but an obstruction call at the plate allowed the run to score.
Freshman Bri Ellis pushed the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single through the left side. Sophomore Denver Bryant capped the four-run first inning with single through the right side.
The Aggies cut the lead to 4-1 in the top of the third as Texas A&M manufactured a run with a pair of singles and a wild pitch.
After Blaine led off the third with a single down the line in left, Ellis smacked her seventh home run of the season off the scoreboard to push the lead to 6-1. The Aggies answered in the top of the fourth as they loaded the bases with three straight singles before Lee knocked a grand slam to pull Texas A&M within one.
The score would hold until the bottom of the fifth. Peralta led off with a walk before coming around to score on a Blaine home run to center.
Tossing the final 3.2 innings in relief, Lowe earned the win to improve to 8-1. She retired 11 consecutive batters, not allowing a base runner to reach, and struck out three. Earning her first start of the season, KK Dismukes tossed 3.1 innings and struck out four in the outing.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to nonconference play on Wednesday with a road tilt at Kennesaw State. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
