CLEARWATER, Fla. – Behind a gem from sophomore pitcher Ella Harrison and a walk off effort by McKaela Walker, Auburn softball (4-2) concluded the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 4-3 victory over Penn State (4-1) Sunday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
“That was such an important game,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “It was a quick turnaround. We were tired and giving it everything we had. Ella (Harrison) had such an incredible outing. It gave us a chance. We’ll take a win however we can get it. You put pressure on the defense. It’s a tough play to make. You never know what’s going to happen.”
With the game locked at 3-3, Auburn led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk from junior Ma’Nia Womack and a single from senior Destiny Rodriguez to put the winning run in scoring position.
Penn State answered with two quick outs and forced Walker into a 3-2 count. Walker knocked a ball up the middle, but an errant throw by the Penn State shortstop allowed her to reach safely to keep the game alive for Womack to score the winning run.
by any means necessary 😤#WarEagle | @kvboogie pic.twitter.com/aDNzm6zMVv
— Auburn Softball (@AuburnSoftball) February 8, 2026
Harrison (2-0) had a strong showing in her complete-game effort. She kept Penn State off the board until the fifth inning and allowed just two earned runs in Sunday’s contest. Harrison scattered five hits and a pair of walks while setting a season high with 11 strikeouts.
Four Tigers turned in multi-hit efforts in Sunday’s game. Sophomore Kylie Shaw went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Freshman Haven Roebuck went 2-for-4 with a run scored while junior Kylie Brockman finished 2-for-3 with a double.
After a scoreless first inning, Auburn got on the board in the bottom of the second. With Walker on board via a hit by pitch, Brockman doubled to move two Tigers into scoring position. Redshirt sophomore Kyla Stroud pushed across the first run with a sacrifice fly to right.
That score held until the fifth inning. Penn State took advantage of an Auburn throwing error to score an unearned run to lock the game at 1-1, but the Tigers responded in the home half. Rodriguez stepped to the plate with two outs and the go-ahead run standing at first base. She slugged a double off the centerfield wall to put Auburn back in front 2-1.
Penn State’s Natalie Lieto connected with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to keep the back-and-forth alive in the late innings. Once against, Auburn answered in the bottom of the inning.
Roebuck led off with a double to put the tying run in scoring position. At the plate with one out, Brockman delivered the equalizing base hit to tie the game yet again to set up Auburn’s walk off in the seventh.
Penn State had an opportunity in the top of the seventh as a single and stole base put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Harrison countered with a pop up and two ground outs to end the threat.
GAME NOTES
- Kylie Shaw recorded two hits for the fourth consecutive games, bringing her career multi-hit game total to four. Shaw recorded the first double of her collegiate career in the contest.
- Haven Roebuck recorded the third multi-hit contest of her career and added her fourth double of the season.
- Destiny Rodriguez recorded her third multi-hit contest of the season and the 16th of her career. With her second double of the season, Rodriguez has 10 career doubles to her credit.
- Kylie Brockman went 2-for-3 at the plate for her third multi-hit game of the season and the sixth of her career. With two doubles over opening weekend, Brockman has matched her 2025 season total and brought her career total to four.
- Ella Harrison recorded her second complete game of the season and the 20th of her career. Improving to 2-0 this season, Harrison has 14 career wins.
- Harrison struck out a season high 11 batters. It marked the eighth time in her career that she has struck out 10 or more batters in the game and the first time since April 4, 2025, at Penn State, while pitching for Rutgers.
- She is the first Auburn pitcher to record 10 or more strikeouts in a game since Maddie Penta struck out 21 vs. UCF on May 18, 2024.
UP NEXT
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.