MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Grinding out a pair of gritty victories, Auburn softball kept its undefeated fall record intact with wins over AUM and Alabama State on Sunday at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
Auburn opened Sunday with a 5-1 victory over AUM before battling from behind to take down Alabama State 4-3.
Junior Abbey Smith led the Tigers at the plate going 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI, including driving in a crucial insurance run for Auburn in the sixth inning versus Alabama State. Junior Annabelle Widra kept her hot bat going another weekend with a 3-for-6 effort and two runs scored. Senior Makayla Packer also turned in a 3-for-6 day with a double, two runs score and two RBI.
Sophomore Emmah Rolfe was Auburn's leader in the circle with four scoreless innings of work. Earning the win versus AUM, Rolfe allowed just a pair of hits and one walk while striking out four. Picking up her second win of the fall, Widra picked up the victory versus Alabama State and led the staff with six strikeouts.
The freshman duo of Chalea Clemmons and Malayna Tamborra saw relief innings in both games. Clemmons earned the save versus Alabama State, striking out the side. She closed the day with five total strikeouts.
It was a quiet start for the Tigers to open Sunday's doubleheader as Auburn was kept off the board until the third inning.
A walk, Widra single and AUM error loaded the bases for Packer. Packer doubled to straightaway center to drive in two. Axe Milanowski came through with a clutch two-out infield single to plate the third run of the inning. Packer scored the fourth run of the inning, coming home while Milanowski kept a pickle alive on a steal attempt.
The speed of Smith manufactured a run in the fourth. After beating out an infield bunt single, Smith stole second and took third on a passed ball. KK McCrary brought her home on a sacrifice fly to center.
Rolfe battled through a shaky start in the circle to keep the Warhawks off the board in her four innings of work. After giving up pair of singles in the first inning, Rolfe found her groove and retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced.
Auburn had to play from behind versus the Lady Hornets as a leadoff single, Tiger error and a passed ball help manufacture a pair of runs for Alabama State in the third inning. The Tigers responded in the top of the fourth as three straight singles loaded the bases. Rose Roach and Smith drew a pair of bases-loaded walks to tie the game.
Nelia Peralta delivered the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Tigers in front 3-2.
A leadoff single in the sixth from Widra turned into an Auburn insurance run as the junior scored on a two-out Smith single. Alabama State answered in the home half with a sacrifice fly to cut the Tiger lead to a run heading into the seventh but Clemmons froze the Lady Hornets with three straight strikeouts to close the game.
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field on Sunday, Oct. 15 for its third weekend of fall competition. The Tigers host Costal Alabama and Enterprise in a doubleheader slate. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.
