COLUMBIA, S.C. – Plating eight runs in the top of the fifth to set up the run-rule victory, junior Maddie Penta sealed the deal with the program's first no-hitter in Southeastern Conference play since 2006 as No. 17 Auburn softball (37-15, 13-8 SEC) took down South Carolina (33-17, 8-13 SEC) 10-0 in five innings Sunday at Beckham Field at Carolina Softball Stadium to clinch the series.
The Tigers have now won three straight SEC series and have won two consecutive road SEC series for the first time since 2019. Auburn currently stands third in the SEC standings with a half-game lead over Arkansas heading into the final weekend of regular season. The victory was also the 200th Auburn win for head coach Mickey Dean.
"It was a big response after yesterday," Dean said. "The team was engaged today. They weren't overswinging. They weren't getting emotional in the dugout. We were confident."
Accomplishing a feat that hasn't been done since Holly Currie versus Ole Miss in 2006, Penta no-hit the Gamecocks to close out the series. The no-hitter was Penta's fourth individual no-hitter of her collegiate career. Penta allowed just two base runners to reach via a pair of walks and closed Sunday with nine strikeouts. Penta is now 23-5 in the circle and is tied for the sixth most wins in season by an individual Tiger pitcher.
The Tiger pitching staff is now third in program history with 21 shutouts this season. Penta is now tied with Beth DiPetro (2005) for the fourth most shutouts in a season with seven. Five of Penta's seven shutouts have come in conference play, tying her for second with Currie (2005).
"My defense had my back today," Penta said. "When my offense gives me early run support, it gives me confidence to attack the plate. I get to relax and pitch my game. It's a team effort. I can't win a game. We'll continue to build on this heading into the final weekend."
Icess Tresvik had a big day at the plate and was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Tresvik went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBI. KK McCrary recorded a pair of hits in the fifth inning, including a three-run double. Aspyn Godwin turned in a multi-RBI effort, driving in two with a pinch-hit double in the fifth.
"I was locked in today," Tresvik said. "I hadn't squared up the ball the last two games. I knew I need to keep a strong barrel at the plate. We want to host regionals. We need to stay locked in. Stay excited and play like an Auburn Tiger."
Auburn was patient at the plate as Auburn walks leader Nelia Peralta drew a pair of free passes to go along with a base hit. Peralta score twice in the finale. Bri Ellis tied an Auburn single-game record with four walks on Sunday. Ellis is just the second Tiger in program history to be intentionally walked three times in a single game, joining Mary Petrie (2001).
Auburn took advantage of a pair of walks and muffed throw on a fielder's choice to load the bases to lead off the finale. Garcia gave Auburn an early lead, driving in the first run of the contest with a ground ball to short. Tresvik extended Auburn's lead to 2-0 as she led off the second with her eighth home run of the season.
Tresvik made the Gamecocks pay for a defensive miscue in the fifth inning. KK McCrary got on board with a pinch-hit single through the right side. Makayla Packer laid down the sacrifice bunt. The Gamecocks elected to make the out at second, but the throw sailed into the outfield. Tresvik plated her second run of the game with a double to straightaway center to force South Carolina's third pitching change of the afternoon.
Denver Bryant welcomed her by dropping a single into shallow right field to drive in a run. Aspyn Godwin broke open the game with a pinch-hit double to left field, extending the Auburn lead to 6-0.
Auburn would use a pair of walks to load the bases for McCrary. Recording her second hit of the inning, McCrary cleared the bases with a double. She would score on a Tresvik single to right field to push the lead to 10-0.
Putting the exclamation point on her performance, Penta struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to preserve the no-hitter.
Auburn concludes the regular season next weekend, hosting Mississippi State at Jane B. Moore Field. The series begins Friday, May 5 at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. In Auburn's last "Friday Night Lights" giveaway of the season, fans will receive free Auburn softball light-up sunglasses while supplies last.
