COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (32-16, 7-12 SEC) threatened with the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but Maddie Penta's 10th strikeout of the contest secured Auburn softball's 20th shutout victory Friday night at Carolina Softball Stadium as the Tigers (36-14, 12-7 SEC) held on for a 1-0 win.
The Tiger pitching staff is now tied with the 2017 staff for the third most shutouts thrown in a season. The complete-game effort was Penta's sixth shutout of the year, which ties her for fifth in Auburn single-season history. Four of her six shutouts have come in conference play, the third most recorded by a Tiger pitcher in an SEC season and the most recorded by any Tiger pitcher since Holly Currie in 2005.
Penta gave up a leadoff single and held the Gamecocks to a lone hit until the sixth. The right-hander closed the game scattering four hits and three walks to leave seven runners stranded. Penta struck out 10 for her ninth double-digit strikeout effort of 2023. The SEC wins leader now stands tied for seventh in Auburn single-season history with 22 wins this year.
Auburn scatted seven hits in Friday's opener. Jessie Blaine was the lone Tiger to turn in a multi-hit effort as she went 2-for-2 with a walk. Makayla Packer came up with clutch two-out single in the fourth to plate Auburn's lone run. The hit was the 100th of Packer's collegiate career.
After getting the leadoff runner in both the first and second innings and coming up scoreless, Auburn would not make that mistake again in the fourth inning. With singles to left from both Bri Ellis and Blaine, the Tigers had two on with one out.
South Carolina used a fielder's choice to erase one base runner, but Icess Tresvik swiped second to put two in scoring position for Packer. Packer delivered with a two-out single to left field toplate pinch runner Skylar Elkins. Tresvik attempted to score on the play, but the Gamecocks made the play at the plate to keep it a one-run ball game.
A pair of singles in the seventh put the tying and winning runs on base for the Gamecocks, but a flyball to right and Penta's 10th strikeout secured the win.
Auburn goes for its third consecutive SEC series win on Saturday. First pitch on the SEC Network+ is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.