OKLAHOMA CITY – Leading off with a solo home run from Nelia Peralta, No. 19 Auburn softball (22-9) led No. 1 Oklahoma (27-1) through the early innings, but the Sooners responded to clinch a 7-1 victory at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on Sunday to conclude the Omni Hall of Fame Classic.
"We weren't able to make adjustments at the plate," said head coach Mickey Dean. "That kept us from staying in the game longer. Plate adjustments on top of our defense is going to be areas of focus as we head into next week."
For the fourth time this season, Peralta led off with a home run, which gave Auburn the early advantage. The Sooners led off the home half of the first with a single through the middle and worked the runner to second with two outs. A deep ball up the middle looked poised to tie the game up, but Peralta delivered a perfect strike to the plate to retire the side.
Makayla Packer joined Peralta in the hit column, driving a single up the middle in the second.
Auburn held on to its lead until the third inning as Oklahoma took a 2-1 advantage off a two-run home run from Jayda Coleman. Maddie Penta struck out the side in the fourth in keep it a one-run game, but the Sooners extended their lead to 6-1 in the fifth with a pair of two-run homers. The Sooners added a run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.
Penta struck out four before being relieved by Shelby Lowe in the fifth. Freshman Emmah Rolfe also saw action in the circle, tossing the sixth. Lowe and Rolfe both struck out one Sooner in their relief appearances.
The Tigers return to Southeastern Conference play, hosting Missouri in the first conference series at Jane B. Moore Field this season. Auburn and Missouri open the three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. The contest is available on SEC Network+.
