AUBURN, Ala. – Extending its win streak to seven consecutive games, No. 19 Auburn softball (18-1) turned in another gritty performance to pick up wins over Louisiana (11-5) and McNeese State (11-8) Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Sweeping the second day of competition at the Jane B. Moore Memorial, the Tigers are now 9-0 in games played on The Plains.
“It was a grind. Two tough, hard-fought games on both sides,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “We wanted to be more dominant on offense. We did a good job of coming out and jumping on what Louisiana wanted to do. We didn’t extend it a ton but did a good job of getting bats and stringing barrels along.”
With the game tied at 2-2, freshman AnnaLea Adams delivered a single to push across a pair of runs to propel the Tigers 6-3 over the Ragin’ Cajuns. Auburn’s rematch with McNeese was a scoreless pitchers’ duel until the fourth inning. Timely hits in the late innings by Anna Wohlers and Nelia Peralta helped the Tigers to a 3-1 win.
Earning a pair of starts on Saturday, Adams went 5-for-6 at the plate over the doubleheader with a home run and a team leading three RBI. Wohlers continued her tear at the plate with two home runs, two RBI and three runs scored. Abbey Smith added three hits and a pair of runs.
Haley Rainey and Chalea Clemmons returned to the circle after early exits on Friday and both turned in strong performances to each pick up wins. SJ Geurin earned saves in both contests. She allowed just two hits in her 4.2 innings of relief.
AUBURN 6, LOUISIANA 3
Using a pair of singles from Peralta and Icess Tresvik to set the table, McCrary got the Tigers on the board in the opening frame with a single to right field to bring home Peralta. McCrary got herself in a pickle between first and second, which allowed Tresvik to score to push the lead to 2-0.
The Ragin’ Cajuns added two runs in the third inning. After a pair of singles and a passed ball, the first run scored off a sacrifice fly. Auburn appeared to have turned a double play on a fielder’s choice, throwing out two runners at the plate. After a review, the first out call was overturned, allowing Louisiana to tie the game at 2-2.
Auburn put two in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the third with help of a McCrary double. Adams delivered the go-ahead hit as her single to right cleared the bases to put Auburn in front 4-2.
Louisiana crawled back into the game with the help of some small ball and a pair of singles, scoring a run in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3. Smith used her speed to lead off the sixth with a double to third base. After stealing third, an errant thrown on the play allowed her to score. Wohlers added another insurance run with a solo home run in the inning.
Rainey earned the start with one of her longest efforts in an Auburn uniform, going 4.1 innings in the outing. Rainey was tagged for four hits and a walk and was charged with just two earned runs. She improved to 3-0.
Geurin tossed 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out two to earn her third save of the season.
AUBURN 3, MCNEESE 1
Clemmons was lights out to keep the Cowgirls off the board. She issued one walk and just three hits to help hold the scoreless stalemate through her first four innings of work.
Adams got the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the inning with a solo home run. McNeese pushed its lone run across in the fifth as a leadoff walk would ultimately score off a single to right field to tie the game.
Wohlers put Auburn back in front in the home half with a solo home run to left field. An RBI double from Peralta added so much needed insurance in the sixth.
Going five full innings, Clemmons scattered four hits, two walks and just one run. She struck out four as she improved to 4-1. Geurin once again earned the save as she retired all six batters she faced.
UP NEXT
Auburn concludes the Jane B. Moore Memorial on Sunday with a rematch with the Ragin’ Cajuns. First pitch on the SEC Network+ at 11:30 a.m. CT.