Night of Firsts: softball opens Malveaux era with pair of wins

Night of Firsts: softball opens Malveaux era with pair of winsNight of Firsts: softball opens Malveaux era with pair of wins
  • Game 1
  • Game 2
Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – Sealing the night with a Gatorade bath, Auburn softball (2-0) opened the Malveaux era with a pair of wins as the Tigers knocked off Southern Illinois (0-2) and North Carolina (1-1) at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday.

“It was a great night, but a greater night for our team,” said co-head coach Kate Malveaux. “They work their tails off. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re fighting for, and now they see it. It was great to do this with Chris (Malveaux). It was a great day all around.”

Auburn saw itself in a 1-1 tie in the fourth innings versus Southern Illinois before Nelia Peralta delivered a two-run double to plate the go-ahead runs. Auburn did not let off the gas and picked up the first win of the Malveaux era by a 6-1 score. The Tiger offense jumped out early and took advantage of UNC miscues in Friday’s finale, cruising to a 8-1 final as redshirt sophomore SJ Geurin went the distance in the circle.

Malveaux First Win

On the first day of competition at the Tiger Invitational, Auburn outscored its opponents 14 to 2. Auburn totaled 16 hits, including six for extra bases. 

Senior Icess Tresvik paced the offense, closing the night 5-for-8 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Peralta added three hits, including a double, with three RBI. Graduate student KK McCrary also turned in a three-RBI performance off two hits, including a home run. 

It was Auburn’s young pitching staff that made a splash Friday night. Sophomore Chalea Clemmons made her collegiate debut in the circle versus Southern Illinois to pick up her first victory in relief. Clemmons went 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits, a walk and striking out four. 

Malayna Tamborra made her first collegiate start in the game and held the Salukis to one run in her 2.2 inning of work. Senior Haley Rainey closed out the game. In her Auburn debut, Rainey tossed 1.2 hitless innings of relief behind three strikeouts.

Making her first collegiate start, Geurin went the distance versus North Carolina to record her first complete game. Geurin allowed one run in the first frame before shutting down the Tar Heels. She scattered four hits and a pair of walks while striking out four.

 

AUBURN 6, SIU 1

Auburn got on the board early with Tresvik manufacturing the run. Getting on base with an infield single, Tresvik swiped a pair of bases before scoring on an overthrown ball to the third base bag.  

The Salukis would even the game in the third frame with a solo home run to lead off the inning, but Auburn answered in the fourth. With two on with help of free passes, Peralta delivered the two-out double to clear the bases to put Auburn up 3- 1.

The Tigers added a pair of runs in the fifth. Senior Anna Wohlers led off the inning with a triple before McCrary launched the first home run of the 2025 season. Auburn’s final run of the game came in the sixth inning as Wohlers drove in Peralta with a sacrifice fly.

Highlights: Game 1

AUBURN 8, UNC 1

The Tar Heels struck first in Friday’s finale, using a walk and a pair of singles to manufacture a run. Auburn didn’t waste any time and answered with a two-out rally in the home half. Wohlers locked the game up with a solo home run. A walk and Kylie Brockman single put two on before a UNC error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Miscues plagued North Carolina in the second inning as three errors helped Auburn plate four runs to extend its lead. Peralta and Tresvik turned in RBI singles after the Tar Heel mistakes to plate three runs. McCrary drove in the final run of the frame off a sacrifice fly. 

A two-out Tresvik home run in the third pushed Auburn’s lead to a decisive 8-1. Geurin shut out the Tar Heels over the final six innings, allowing just five runners to reach base.

Highlights: Game 2

UP NEXT

Auburn has the morning slate for the second day of competition at the Tiger Invitational. The Tigers face Appalachian State at 10 a.m. CT before concluding Saturday with a rematch against Southern Illinois at 12:30 p.m. CT.