AUBURN, Ala. – After its late-inning rally versus UNI (7-2) fell short, No. 24 Auburn softball (6-2-1) bounced back to walk off Southeast Missouri State (4-8) in five innings Saturday night at Jane B. Moore Field in the second day of action of the Plainsman Invitational.
"We came out flat in game one," said head coach Mickey Dean. "You can't expect to win a ball game when you come out flat right out of the gate. We got some good pitches to hit in the second contest. We were able to hit with runners in scoring position. We had a few home runs, and those always help."
Auburn's offense shone in its 13-5 victory over the Redhawks with Nelia Peralta leading the charge with a career high five RBI with help of her first career grand slam. Freshman Mariah Penta also shined in the start as she went 1-for-1 with her first collegiate home run and three RBI. Amelia Lech continued to rack up the RBI as she went 1-for-1 with two RBI and three runs scored.
The Tigers had to battle from behind as the Redhawks scored two runs off three hits in the top of the second. Lech led off the home half of the inning with a solo blast to left center, cutting the lead to one run.
Auburn exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Auburn drew two walks to drive in a pair of runs before Peralta pelted a ball to left center for a grand slam to give Auburn a 7-2 advantage. Mariah Penta followed up with a two-run homer of her own, her first collegiate hit, in the frame.
SEMO answered with three runs off three hits in the top of the fourth to cut the Tiger lead to four, but Auburn didn't let off the gas. Peralta continued her hot hitting with an RBI single up the middle before Makayla Packer scored off a wild pitch. Mariah Penta pushed the lead to 12-5 with a sacrifice fly to center.
Auburn walked off the win in the bottom of the fifth as a fly ball to left field, in what would have been the final out of the inning, was dropped and allowed Tresvik to score from second off the error.
An error-plagued fourth inning was the deciding factor in Auburn's 4-2 loss to UNI. The Panthers scored three unearned runs in the inning to take the lead. UNI's lone earned run came off a sixth inning solo home run from Alexis Pupillo.
Maddie Penta (2-2) was strong in the circle, only giving up a pair of hits and one walk. She struck out 10 in the outing for her second double-digit effort of the season.
The Tigers battled back in the bottom of the sixth plating a pair of runs off RBI singles from Icess Tresvik and Lech but couldn't muster any additional offensive support to finish the comeback.
Auburn has a chance at revenge on Sunday as the Tigers close the Plainsman Invitational with a rematch against UNI at 2 p.m. CT.
