AUBURN, Ala. –Trailing a run in the bottom of the sixth, No. 17 Auburn softball (38-15, 14-8 SEC) plated four runs to storm back and knock off Mississippi State (27-23, 6-15) 5-2 in Friday's series opener at Jane B. Moore Field.
"We had been having good at-bats the whole game," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We just weren't scoring runs. I told them I was proud of them because they showed real maturity. When you're having that many hits and not scoring, it can be frustrating. You can kind of lose it, but we didn't. We stuck with it."
Auburn had chances early, scattering six hits and a pair of walks through the first four innings, but couldn't come up with the big hit until Bri Ellis delivered with the game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to pick up sixth come-from-behind effort of the season.
"Striking out my at-bat before really stung," Ellis said. "And that was in another big moment, so this time, I really wanted to get a hit. I just had to try something different. I got a good pitch, and I'm glad I swung at it."
KK McCrary turned in a multi-hit effort with a pair of singles and picked up an RBI in Auburn's big sixth inning. Denver Bryant also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a walk.
The Tigers were aggressive on the bases, tying the program record for stolen bases in an SEC game with six. Auburn last stole six bases in a conference affair at Alabama in 2013.
After retiring 12 straight to open the game, Maddie Penta allowed her first base runner with a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth. Mississippi State broke the stalemate with a two-run home run to left field.
Those were the only runs Penta allowed to score as she improved to 24-5 and has now matched her 2022 wins total. Penta scattered four hits and a pair of walks and turned in her 10th double-digit strikeout effort of the season. The right-hander has set a new career high for strikeouts in a season with 271, a mark that stands fifth in Auburn single-season history.
Tigers manufactured their first run of the game in the fifth. Lindsey Garcia beat out an infield to short before advancing to third on a single to center from McCrary. Garcia cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1, scoring on a passed ball.
That lead held until the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Jessie Blaine led off with a single up the middle followed by a single through the left side from Nelia Peralta. Aubrie Lisenby moved both runners into scoring position with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt.
Ellis came up with the big hit as she cleared the bases with a single to center to put the Tigers up 3-2. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Ellis used an errant thrown at first base to come around and score.
The Tigers used the speed of Abbey Smith to plate their Auburn had chances early, scattering six hits and a pair of walks through the first four innings, but couldn't come up with the big hit.
fourth run of the sixth inning. Pinch running at second, Smith swiped her 16th stolen base of the season before scoring on a squeeze bunt laid down by McCrary.
"Coach (Eugene) Lenti has the confidence in us to execute play," McCrary said. "We were swinging it tonight, We just needed need to execute in those clutch moments, and we finally came through. I'm glad they had the confidence in me to lay down the bunt because it caught the defense by surprise and scored another run."
The top of the seventh was a stressful affair as a pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs, but Penta's 10th strikeout of the game sealed the deal for the Tigers.
Auburn has a chance to clinch its fourth straight SEC series win on Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. It's '90s Day at Jane B. Moore Field as fans will receive a free Auburn softball '90s-inspired t-shirt while supplies last.