Tigers take down Notre Dame, Michigan State to open NFCA Leadoff Classic

by Taylor Shirey
Tigers take down Notre Dame, Michigan State to open NFCA Leadoff ClassicTigers take down Notre Dame, Michigan State to open NFCA Leadoff Classic
  • Game 1
  • Game 2
Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Bouncing back from its opening day loss, Auburn softball (2-1) responded with a pair of wins, taking down Notre Dame (0-1) and Michigan State (1-1) Friday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex to open the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

“It was very important for this team to find a way to win today,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “It was a big response from yesterday. We’re a young team. They need to figure this out. We did enough in different parts of game to put ourselves in position to win. It wasn’t as clean as we would have like, but we got two wins over two good teams. For where we’re at, kudos to our team for not caving and not backing down.”  

Auburn jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Notre Dame to open Friday’s action. The Tigers had to dig deep to fight off a comeback bid, holding off the Fighting Irish for a 5-4 win. Auburn had to come from behind to take down Michigan State. McKaela Walker’s grand slam put the Tigers in front as Auburn held on for a 9-6 victory.

Freshman Haven Roebuck and junior Ma’Nia Womack led the Tigers at the plate. The duo both went 4-for-7 across Friday’s doubleheader. Roebuck slugged two doubles and drove in two runs. Walker led the team in the RBI column with four off her grand slam. The home run was the first for the Tigers this season.

SJ Geurin went the distance against Notre Dame to earn her first win of the season. Auburn used four pitchers in its win versus Michigan State. Malayna Tamborra earned the victory while Ella Harrison earned the save.

AUBURN 5, NOTRE DAME 4

Auburn took advantage of free passes in the first frame as a walk and error at first base put runners on the corners for the Tigers. A wild pitch allowed Womack to score the first run of the game as she scored safely from third. Freshman Haven Roebuck slugged a double to the right field wall to score Destiny Rodriguez, pushing Auburn’s lead to 2-0. The Tigers extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second with a two-out triple from Womack.

The Tigers’ clutch two-out hitting continued in the top of the third as redshirt sophomore Kyla Stroud drove in a run with a single through the left side.

The Fighting Irish cut into the Tiger lead in the bottom of the of inning with back-to-back doubles. Notre Dame made it a one run game in the fifth inning off a Rebecca Eka home run.

Sophomore Annalea Adams plated a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI triple, her first hit of the season, to push Auburn’s lead to 5-3.

Notre Dame led off the home half of the frame with back-to-back hits to put runners on the corners. The Irish made it a one-run game once again, driving in a run of a sacrifice fly.

Geurin was able to shut down the threat with back-to-back fly outs to secure Auburn’s first win. She closed the contest allowing four runs off 10 hits and a pair of walks while striking out one to move to 1-0 on the season.

Roebuck has a breakout performance at the plate as the freshman went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Womack finished 2-for-3 with two runs score and an RBI.

AUBURN 9, MICHIGAN STATE 6

Michigan State jumped out to an early lead with a first-inning, two-run blast from Hannah Hawley, but Auburn immediately responded in the top of the second.

The Tigers loaded the bases with a walk, Spartan error and an infield single from Kylie Brockman. With two outs, Alyssa Hastings plated the first run, drawing the bases-loaded walk. Walker made the Spartans pay with her first career grand slam, a shot to straightaway center.

After trading scoreless third and fourth innings, Auburn added to its lead in the fifth. Adams and Roebuck traded doubles to lead off the frame and push the lead to 6-2. Kylie Shaw singled on a bunt, while an errant throw on the play allowed Roebuck to score. Brockman made it an 8-2 contest with an RBI single to center.

A pair of Auburn errors in the bottom of the frame proved costly as Michigan State scored a pair of unearned runs to cut the Tiger lead in half. It was a similar story in the sixth inning as two more Auburn errors resulted in two additional runs as Auburn took an 8-6 lead into the seventh.

Brockman plated an insurance run in the finale frame off a sacrifice fly. The Spartans countered in the bottom of the seventh with a double, but Harrison responded with three strikeouts to pick up the win.

Brockman closed the game 2-for-3 with two RBI. Womack and Shaw both turned in a pair of hits against the Spartans. Walker finished 1-for-2 with her grand slam.

Auburn used four total pitchers in the win. Abby Herndon earned the start, tossing two innings. Tamborra earned the victory in relief. She tossed two innings and allowed just two hits and a walk with one strikeout. Charley Butler made her debut with 1.2 innings of relief.

GAME NOTES

  • Ava Ratliff made her first collegiate start, earning the starting catcher nod versus Notre Dame.
  • Charley Butler and Daigle Wilson made their collegiate debuts versus Michigan State.
  • All five of Auburn’s runs in the Notre Dame contests were scored with two outs.
  • Haven Roebuck knocked a first-inning double against the Irish to record her first collegiate hit and first collegiate RBI. Roebuck finished the game 3-for-4 for the first multi-hit contest of her career.
  • Ma’Nia Womack matched her career high with two hits versus Notre Dame. She last recorded two hits in a game since April 4, 2025, at Kentucky. It was the second multi-hit game of her career.
  • Womack also tallied two hits against Michigan State to pick up her third multi-hit contest of her career.
  • AnnaLea Adams’ seventh-inning triple versus the Irish was the first of her career.
  • SJ Geurin went the distance versus Notre Dame to record the sixth complete game of her career. She now has 24 careers wins as an Auburn Tiger.
  • McKaela Walker slugged the first grand slam of her career and the third career home run in the second inning versus Michigan State. It was the first grand slam hit by an Auburn Tiger since KK McCrary versus Georgia on April 13, 2025.
  • It was Walker’s first home run since Feb. 28, 2025, vs. Notre Dame.
  • Kylie Brockman knocked two hits versus Michigan State for her fourth career multi-hit contest. She also added two RBI for her fourth multi-RBI game of her career.

UP NEXT

Auburn continues action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday. The Tigers face No. 9 Clemson on the MLN Network at 3 p.m. CT before concluding the night with a 6 p.m. CT contest versus Pitt. Both games are also available to stream for free on the GameChanger app.

BACK AT HOME

Opening Weekend on the Plains is set for Feb. 12-15 as the Tigers host the War Eagle Classic. The tournament begins on Feb. 12 as the Tigers take on Illinois at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+. Auburn softball will honor the late Mike “Helmet Guy” Cooper as part of Thursday’s opener. Helemt Guy mini-helmets will be available for fans while supplies last.