GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Historic moments from sophomore Bri Ellis and junior Maddie Penta helped No. 19 Auburn softball (29-12, 7-5 SEC) to a 7-0 victory in the series finale at No. 15 Florida (28-10, 6-6 SEC) Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
"I liked how we answered early," said head coach Mickey Dean. "That was the difference. I told our team and staff last night that if we score early, it's over. I didn't think that they'd have the fight that we had. They're a great team, but we did our job early."
The victory was Auburn's first in Gainesville since 2017. It was Auburn's 17th shutout, tied for the sixth most in a single season on the Plains, and its third in Southeastern Conference play.
Maddie Penta went the distance to secure her 17th win of 2023 and her 50th of her Auburn career. She is just the eighth pitcher in program history to record 50 career wins. It was Penta's fifth complete-game shutout of the season and the 10th at a Tiger, tied for ninth in school history.
Turning in her 19th double-digit strikeout performance of her career and the eighth of the season, Penta (17-4) fanned 10 in Saturday's finale. She issued a pair of walks and scattered four hits. For the second consecutive season, Penta surpassed 200 strikeouts as she closed Saturday with 205, which stands 10th in Auburn single-season history.
"Taking one win for Florida and boosting our record in conference play is great," Penta said. "I feel like I pitched better than I did Thursday night. I used my defense more, and they did a great job behind me. It made it a lot easier on myself."
All three of Auburn's hits came in the first inning, with Bri Ellis delivering her 10th home run of the season, marking back-to-back double-digit home run season for the Houston, Texas, native. She now stands tied for 10th in school history for career home runs with Alyssa Rivera (2017-21) at 30.
"I'm proud of myself because I am struggling at the plate right now," Ellis said. "I don't do it for the home runs. I do it for my team. I'm not even trying to hit home runs anymore. I just want to put runs on the board for my team. I have to do my best at the plate. If it is a home run, it's a home run."
Auburn caused chaos on the base paths early with a Nelia Peralta walk, wild pitch and an Aubrie Lisenby single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Denver Bryant gave Auburn its first lead of the series with a one-out single up the middle to drive in Peralta. Ellis chased Florida starting pitching Samantha Bender out of the game in the first frame with a three-run blast to left center.
Penta kept the Gators off-balance, no hitting Florida until an infield single in the fourth inning. Florida's best scoring chance came in the fifth as Sam Roe led off with a triple to right field. Penta answered the challenge, retiring the next three batters via strikeouts to preserve the shutout.
Auburn took advantage of a pair of two-out errors by the Gators to plate three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Florida used a single and walk to put two on with no outs in the seven, Penta cruised to her fifth shutout of the season with a fly ball to center and back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
The Tigers return to Jane B. Moore Field for a Wednesday midweek tilt versus Troy. First pitch on the SEC Network+ is set for 6 p.m. CT. Auburn continues its decades celebration with "80s Night" as fans will receive a free 80s-inspired Auburn softball t-shirt will supplies last. Wednesday also features a ticket special as fans can receive a game ticket and concession voucher for a hot dog and chips for $10.
