AUBURN, Ala. – After falling in extra innings to No. 23 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Auburn softball bounced back to defeat Belmont to split Friday's opening day doubleheader at Jane B. Moore Field.
"We weren't consistent with extra-base hits throughout the day," head coach Mickey Dean said. "We're hitting balls to the fence but getting singles. We need to be more aggressive on the base paths. We weren't productive with runners on base. We struck out a lot with runners on base. We can't win ball games like that."
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings behind a gutsy performance in the circle from senior Maddie Penta, a costly Auburn error in the eighth led to a big inning from the Hokies as Virginia Tech won 8-1.
Against the Bruins, Auburn used a total team effort both at the plate and in the circle to pick up a 6-1 victory to split Friday's doubleheader.
Behind a pair of multi-hit games, junior Icess Tresvik led Auburn at the plate with four hits, including a double, and a run scored. Newcomers Chalea Clemmons and Anna Wohlers also picked up a pair of hits across their appearances. Amelia Lech and KK McCrary delivered the power at the plate with home runs. McCrary and Skylar Elkins both totaled two RBI in Friday's games.
Auburn's pitching staff allowed just three earned runs on Friday and combined for 17 strikeouts. Penta led the staff with eight strikeouts. Annabelle Widra earned the win versus Belmont, striking out five in just two innings of relief.
Malayna Tamborra, Thalia Martin, Kyla Stroud and Mariah Penta joined Clemmons in making their collegiate debuts on Friday.
VIRGINIA TECH
It was a pitching duel through the first three innings as Tech's Lyndsey Grein and Penta combined for nine strikeouts. Auburn broke through in the fourth inning with a solo home run to center from Lech. The Hokies responded in the fifth with a solo blast from Emily LeGette to lock the game back up.
The 1-1 score held through seven innings, forcing extras in a season opener for just the second time in Auburn softball history. Virginia Tech took advantage of a costly Auburn error in the top of eighth to plate seven runs to earn an 8-1 win. Only two of the Hokies' eight runs were earned.
Auburn sprinkled eight hits throughout the opener with junior Icess Tresvik turning in a multi-hit performance versus the Hokies. Junior Nelia Peralta led off the game with a base hit to record the 100th of her collegiate career.
Penta struck out eight over her seven innings of work, allowing just a pair of earned runs. Shelby Lowe tossed one inning of relief with two strikeouts.
BELMONT
Auburn jumped out to an early lead versus the Bruins as McCrary led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to straightaway center. Belmont used a pair of hits and a double steal to manufacture a run in the top of the second to tie the game up.
The Tigers responded in the home half of the second with loading the bases with a Wohlers double, Makayla Packer walk and a Belmont error on an Aubrie Lisenby sacrifice bunt attempt. McCrary put the Tigers back in front and a sacrifice fly to left field.
Tresvik led off the bottom of the third with a double before Auburn loaded the bases with a pair of walks. A bases-loaded walk to Wohlers and hit by pitch to Lisenby plated a pair of runs to push the lead to 4-1.
Elkins came through with a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 6-1.
It was pitch by committee for the pitching staff as Emmah Rolfe, Widra, Lowe and Tamborra all saw action in the circle. Rolfe was tagged with the only run allowed as she struck out two in her start. Widra led the staff, recording five of Auburn's seven Belmont strikeouts. She allowed just three hits in two scoreless frames.
Lowe also tossed a pair of shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. Tamborra tossed the final inning and allowed just one hit in her collegiate debut.
UP NEXT
The Tiger Invite continues as Auburn looks for revenge in a rematch with Virginia Tech. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT. The first 100 fans at Jane B. Moore Field will receive a Tiger Invite collectable pennant. Auburn returns to the field at 4 p.m. CT to face Illinois. Both games will be available on the SEC Network+.