AUBURN, Ala. – Not allowing a single run to score across the Plainsman Invite, No. 20 Auburn softball (15-1) closed the tournament Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field with a 4-0 victory over North Dakota State (6-8) for the program's fifth consecutive shutout win.
"We've talked about it," said head coach Mickey Dean. "Everyone has the same attitude on Sundays. It doesn't matter what your record is coming into Sunday. That last day is championship day. Everyone we are going to face moving forward, we're pretty equal in talent. It's going to come down to the mentality of that day. That's our challenge."
With the win, Auburn improved to 11-0 at Jane B. Moore Field and extended its winning streak to 13 consecutive games. The Tiger pitching staff has recorded 10 shutouts through the first 16 games. Auburn has recorded five straight shutouts for the first time since the 2018 season.
Runs came at a premium at Jane B. Moore Field on Sunday as NDSU's Paige Vargas and the junior Auburn duo of Shelby Lowe and Maddie Penta held both teams to one lone run through the first four innings before Auburn broke through in the fifth inning with much needed insurance.
Lowe earned the win to improve to 2-0. Over her four innings, Lowe struck out four and allowed one hit. Penta secured her first save of the season, tossing three shutout innings to preserve the win. Penta gave up a pair of hits and struck out four.
Lindsey Garcia broke the stalemate in the bottom of the third, plating the first run of the game with a bases loaded walk. The Tigers added three runs in the fifth as Nelia Peralta, Carlee McCondichie and Bri Ellis went back-to-back-to-back with doubles. Jessie Blaine plated the final run of the inning with a pinch-hit single out of the reach of a leaping Bison second baseman.
Auburn faces its first in-state road test on Wednesday as the Tigers trek to Troy for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch.