AUBURN, Ala. – During the second day of action at the Jane B. Moore Memorial, Auburn softball (14-4) split its Friday twin billing, topping Troy (12-5) before stumbling to No. 11 Virginia Tech (13-2) at Jane B. Moore Field.
Using a pair of five-run innings, Auburn’s offense capitalized early and cruised to a 10-4 victory over the Trojans. The Tigers and the Hokies were locked in a back-and-forth affair throughout the night, but Virginia Tech won the shootout 9-5.
“I loved that we were more competitive from the jump,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “Troy did a good job to keep us off enough to get through innings. We had chances to end that game early, but I also felt like we were competing at the plate and took care of the ball on the defensive side. We left a lot of runners on base against Virginia Tech. They put the ball in play hard. We ran out of windows to work through with them. Ella (Harrison) did incredibly well, but she lost her stuff right at the end. Hindsight, I should have pulled the trigger on a pitching change sooner. They were able to come up with the big hits with runners on, and we’ve got to do better at doing the same.”
AUBURN 10, TROY 4
After a scoreless first frame, four walks across the first five Tigers batters plated the first run of the game. McKaela Walker broke it open with her second grand slam of the season to build a 5-0 lead.
The Trojans led off the third with a solo home run off the bat of Sophia Jenkins, but the Tigers countered in the home half with their second five-run inning.
With a runner in scoring position freshman Ava Ratliff doubled to left center to score a run. A walk and a pair of wild pitches pushed the lead to 7-1. Two walks loaded the bases up with one out. Senior Destiny Rodriguez drove in a run off a sacrifice fly. AnnaLea Adams sent a home run to left field. However, a player from the dugout crossed fair territory during the celebration and resulted in Adams being called out at the plate and only two runs to count.
Troy added three runs in the fourth inning with the help of four hits and an Auburn error. Kalee Rochinski delivered the big hit with a two-run home run in the frame. Relief pitchers from both squads took over in the final three frames to hold the score at 10-4.
Making her first collegiate start, redshirt freshman Blayne Godfrey tossed 2.1 innings. She allowed just one run off one hit and a pair of walks while striking out a Trojan. Redshirt freshman Abby Herndon earned the win in relief to improve to 4-1. She threw 3.2 innings of relief and recorded a strikeout. Junior Malayna Tamborra also tossed an inning of hitless relief to close the game.
Adams finished the contest 2-for-3 with two RBI. Sophomore Kylie Shaw turned in a multi-hit contest with two base knocks. Walker finished 1-for-2 at the plate with four RBI.
GAME NOTES: TROY
- Blayne Godfrey earned her first collegiate start in the circle.
- Auburn is 9-1 this season when scoring at least 10 runs in a game. That record improves 18-1 in the Malveaux era.
- With two hits, Kylie Shaw extended her reached base streak to 19 consecutive games. It was the ninth multi-hit game of the season and her career.
- McKaela Walker slugged her eighth home run of the season and the 10th of her career. It was her fifth multi-RBI game of the season and the 10th of her career.
- AnnaLea Adams slugged her second triple of the season and her career. It was her seventh multi-RBI game of the season and the 20th of her career.
VIRGINIA TECH 9, AUBURN 5
In similar fashion, it was Auburn that scored first after a quiet opening inning. Junior Ma’Nia Womack slugged a two-run home run to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. That score held until the fourth inning. The Hokies led off the frame with a double before a two-out single up the middle cut the lead to 2-1.
The Hokies took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth. A single up the middle and a wild pitch moved a runner into scoring position. The tying run scored as the throw home on a fielder’s choice play at the plate was high. A two-out single up the middle built a 3-2 Virginia Tech lead.
Ratliff came through with a clutch, two-out home run to push Auburn back in front 5-3 after five innings. Ratliff finished 2-for-3 with three RBI off her home run.
Auburn’s pitching staff ran out of gas in the top of the sixth as the Hokies used five hits, including a double and a home run, to plate five runs. A bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh scored the ninth Hokie run of the game.
The Tigers used three pitchers in the contest. Sophomore Ella Harrison earned the start. She struck out three in her 5.2 innings of work but ultimately suffered the loss as she fell to 7-2. Junior SJ Geurin and freshman Charley Butler saw relief action and recorded a strikeout each.
GAME NOTES: VIRGINIA TECH
- With three walks, Kylie Shaw extended her reached base streak for 20 consecutive games.
- Ava Ratliff connected on the first home run of her career. She added her first multi-hit contest as she closed the game with two. She also added her second multi-RBI game of the season.
- Ma’Nia Womack slugged her sixth home run of the season and the eighth of her career. It was her sixth multi-RBI game of the season and the eighth of her career.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues the Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament on Saturday with another twin billing. The Tigers have a rematch with No. 11 Virginia Tech at 1:30 p.m. CT prior to taking on USC Upstate at 4 p.m. CT. Both contests are available on the SEC Network+. Fans can listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM or can stream the radio call on the Auburn Tigers website of mobile app. Saturday Auburn will celebrate Aubie’s birthday. Aubie Kids Club members are invited to a pregame birthday party, which begins at 12:30 p.m. CT. Due to the War Eagle Run Fest, roads around campus will be closed. Jane B. Moore Field can be accessed via Wire Road to Lem Morrison to Biggio Drive.