Penta, Peralta tabbed to Preseason All-SEC Team

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After turning in All-Southeastern Conference performances a season ago, senior pitcher Maddie Penta and junior shortstop Nelia Peralta were honored as Preseason All-SEC selections while Auburn softball was selected to finish fifth, following a vote by the league's 13 head coaches.

 
The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year and NFCA First Team All-American, Penta returns for her final season in an Auburn uniform. The right-hander from Chesapeake City, Maryland, led the SEC in wins last season with 27, tying the program's single-season record. She was just the fifth player in school history to win at least 10 games in conference play, closing her junior campaign with 12.  
 
Becoming just the second pitcher in Auburn softball history to surpass 300 strikeouts in a season, Penta finished second in the nation with 303 total. Among her staggering numbers, she also ranked second in the league in earned run average (1.33), innings pitched (220.2), shutouts (8) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.93).
 
Penta has racked up multiple preseason honors already this month, checking in at No. 9 in both D1 Softball and Softball America's Preseason Player Rankings. Softball America also ranked Penta as the No. 3 pitcher in the country in their yearly preseason position rankings.
 
Auburn's most consistent hitter a season ago, Peralta started every game at shortstop for the Tigers in 2023. A staple at the top of the lineup, the Wellington, Florida, native led the team with a .329 batting average, 39 runs scored and 54 hits.
 
Of her 54 base hits, Peralta slugged seven doubles, two triples and nine home runs. An All-SEC Second Team honoree last season, Peralta stood second on the team with a .561 slugging percentage and has added 23 RBI.
 
Patient at the plate, Peralta led Auburn with 43 walks. She ranked sixth in the SEC with a 0.69 walks per game average while her .479 on-base percentage ranked ninth among all qualifying SEC hitters. She reached safely in 57 of Auburn's 63 contests, which included a stretch of reaching base in 29 consecutive games to record the sixth longest streak in school history.
 
After turning in its first winning record in SEC play since 2017, Auburn was tabbed to finish fifth in the SEC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll. Tennessee was predicted to finish first, following by Georgia, LSU and Arkansas.
 
Opening Day on The Plains is set for Friday, Feb. 9 versus Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. As part of the Tiger Invite, Auburn also faces Belmont later that afternoon at 4 p.m. CT. Single game, Pick 6 and flex plan ticket options are available to purchase by CLICKING HERE.

  2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

2024 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team