AUBURN, Ala. – After junior Amelia Lech drove in six runs to lead No. 25 Auburn softball (4-1-1) to a win over UC Davis (2-3), the Tigers were the victors in a pitching duel, walking off No. 13 Utah (4-3) to sweep Saturday's doubleheader at the Nancy Almarez Stadium during day two of the PV College Challenge.
"What a great team win," said head coach Mickey Dean. "You have no idea how proud I am of this team. They stuck together. It wasn't smooth, but the work we did throughout the day enabled us to win."
Lech slugged a pair of homers, including a first-inning grand slam, to plate every run in Auburn's 6-3 win over the Mustangs. Lech ended Saturday's doubleheader going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, six RBI and a .714 on-base percentage.
Auburn ace Maddie Penta (2-1) went the distance versus the Utes, stranding nine base runners to keep the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Makayla Packer drew a four-pitch walk to bring in the winning run as Auburn walked off the game 1-0.
Penta scattered six hits and recorded five strikeouts and earned her 62nd win of her Auburn career, moving her into third place in program history. The win was also her 14th shutout as she now stands in a tie with Kaylee Carlson for fifth in program history.
KK McCrary turned in a strong performance Saturday, going 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored while Anna Wohlers knocked two hits, including a double, for an RBI and two runs scored.
Shelby Lowe (1-0) earned her first victory of the season behind five strikeouts in her start versus UC Davis.
UC DAVIS
Leading off with singles from Nelia Peralta and McCrary, Wohlers drew a two-out walk to load the bases in the first inning ahead of Lech. She didn't miss her RBI opportunity as she sent a no doubter to centerfield to put Auburn up 4-0.
Lowe cruised through the Mustang lineup through the first five innings, facing just two over the minimum to keep the lead intact. UC Davis made some noise in the top of the sixth, plating three runs off five hits to make it a one-run ball game.
Lech provided the lift in the bottom of the frame with her two-run no doubter to left center.
Reliver Annabelle Widra tossed the final two innings, scattering four hits and one run while striking out four to earn her first save of the season.
UTAH
It was a pitching duel between Penta and Utah's Mariah Lopez as the duo scattered 14 hits, all singles, and stranded a total of 16 base runners until the bottom of the seventh inning.
McCrary led off the inning with a walk before moving into scoring position on a one-out single from Wohlers. Lech loaded the bases with the second Tiger walk of the frame. Lopez battled back with a strikeout to bring Packer to the plate with two outs.
Packer didn't have to swing her bat as she watched four pitches out of the zone to secure the 1-0 walk-off win.
UP NEXT
Friday is an off day for the Tigers in Mexico. Auburn returns to the field on Saturday to face a familiar postseason foe for the first time in the regular season as the Tigers face No. 8 Clemson at 3 p.m. CT. The game is available to stream with a FloSoftball account.