LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Accolades continue to roll in for Auburn softball ace Maddie Penta as she earned National Pitcher of the Week honors from both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and D1 Softball on Tuesday.
For the second time in her career, Penta was selected as the Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week to go along with her selection from D1 Softball. Penta was also tabbed the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for a program-record sixth time in her career on Monday.
Penta twirled three shutouts, including a perfect game, and struck out 34 batters over 19 innings of work last week. The senior hurler allowed just six hits, walked one and held the opposition to a .098 batting average.
Her week began with perfection as the Chesapeake City, Maryland, native tossed just the third perfect game in program history in Auburn's 8-0 win versus Georgia State on Feb. 29. Penta set a season high with 13 strikeouts in the outing as she joined Kaylee Carlson (2017) and Holly Currie (2005) as the only Tigers to reach perfection.
She has now fanned at least 10 batters in her last five appearances and recorded four straight shutouts. Eyeing history, Penta is just one win shy of tying and two of breaking Carlson's program record for career wins.
Penta and the No. 25 Tigers return to the diamond on Friday to open SEC play at No. 12 Missouri. The series begins Friday at 4 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.