Auburn softball ties record with six homers, run rules Cal 19-5

Auburn softball ties record with six homers, run rules Cal 19-5Auburn softball ties record with six homers, run rules Cal 19-5
David Gray/Auburn Tigers
Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Tying the program’s single-game record for home runs with six, Auburn softball (13-4) slugged by California (5-10) in run-rule fashion, 19-3, Sunday at the Big League Dreams Complex to conclude the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

“It’s a long week,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “Every game is against a tough opponent. I was proud of the way our offense responded after yesterday. It was tough with an early morning turnaround. We knew Cal was going to bring a lot of energy, but we knew we had to play with intent, compete and get after it. From the start, it felt totally different. I was very happy with how our team responded.”

The six homers tied a program record that was set last season when the Tigers slugged six versus No. 18 Georgia. Senior McKaela Walker and freshman Haven Roebuck both slugged two home runs in the contest. Junior Ma’Nia Womack and freshman Delaney Aumua rounded out the Tigers with long balls. Auburn concluded the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with 13 total home runs.

Walker closed the game 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored, two home runs and six RBI. Roebuck finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBI off her two homers. Sophomore AnnaLea Adams went 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI.

Sophomore Ella Harrison earned the start. In her two innings of work, she allowed one unearned run off one hit and two walks. She struck out three. Redshirt freshman Abby Herndon was credited with the win, improving to 2-1. She allowed just one run and one hit in her inning of work. She struck out one.

Both junior Malayna Tamborra and freshman Charley Butler saw relief innings in the circle. The pair recorded one strikeout each.

Auburn took advantage of free passes early, drawing three walks to get traffic on the bases. Walker and Roebuck delivered a pair of home runs to build a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

After retiring the side in order to open the game, California loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second. Harrison battled back with a pair of strikeouts to close the frame but not before a bases-loaded walk push across a run for the Golden Bears.

Roebuck answered immediately with a solo home run to lead off the third inning. With two in scoring position, freshman Ava Ratliff pushed the lead to 7-1 with an RBI single to third base.

A hit by pitch loaded the bases ahead of Walker, who drew a bases-loaded walk to pick up another RBI. An error in the outfield allowed two more Tiger runs to score. The third-inning onslaught continued as Adams drove in two off a single to right field. Womack capped the nine-run frame with a home run to push the lead to 14-1.

Cal found some offense in the bottom of the third with a Gator Robinson home run, but Harrison would retire the next two batters she faced to limit the damage.

Auburn did not let up as Walker and Aumua knocked home runs in the fifth to build a 19-1 advantage.

The Golden Bears used two walks and three hits to score three runs across the final two frames, but Auburn’s lead was insurmountable.

 GAME NOTES

  • Auburn has slugged multiple home runs in nine games this season. The Tigers are 9-0 in those contests.
  • The Tigers tied the program record with six home runs. The record was first set on April 11, 2025, versus No. 18 Georgia.
  • Auburn’s 19 runs marked the first time the Tigers have scored 15 or more runs in a game since scoring 15 versus Niagara on April 15, 2022.
  • Auburn is 9-1 this season when scoring 10 or more runs. That record improves to 18-1 across the Malveaux era.
  • Kylie Shaw drew two walks in the contest to extend her reached base streak to 17 consecutive games. She tied her career high, scoring three runs in the contest.
  • McKaela Walker set career records in runs scored (3), hits (3) and RBI (6) while also recording the first multi-home run game of her career.
  • It was Walker’s third multi-RBI game of her senior season to up her career total to eight. She also totaled her fourth multi-hit game of the season and the fifth of her career.
  • AnnaLea Adams drove in two runs off her single in the third inning. It was her sixth multi-RBI game of the season and the 19th of her career.
  • Delaney Aumua slugged her second home run of the weekend to record the first multi-RBI game of her career.
  • Haven Roebuck slugged home runs in the first and third innings to bring her season total to five. It was her first multi-home run game of her career. She recorded her fifth multi-hit game and fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
  • Ma’Nia Womack homered in the third inning. It was her fourth of the season and the sixth of her career. She tallied her fourth multi-RBI game of the season and the sixth of her career.
  • With a single in the first inning and a double in the third, Kyla Stroud recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season and her career. The double was the third of Stroud’s season and career.
  • True freshman Brityan Godfrey made her collegiate debut with a pinch-hit appearance in the contest.

UP NEXT

Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field to host the Jane B. Moore Memorial on Feb. 26 to March 1. The Tigers open the tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT with a showdown against in-state foe Troy. No. 17 Virginia Tech and USC Upstate complete the tournament field. The Tigers will compete in six total games over the four-day tournament. All six games are available on the SEC Network+. Auburn will celebrate Aubie’s birthday on Feb. 28 with a pregame party for Aubie’s Kids Club members. Sunday will feature “Softballs from the Sky” as a helicopter will drop foam softballs on the field for kids ages four to 15.