Auburn softball had a nearly perfect first day of the season.
Sophomore Shelby Lowe (1-0) threw a no-hitter against St. John’s in the Tigers’ second game of the season. The left-hander struck out 11 batters and hit one batter in the five innings she pitched, as Auburn cruised to a 14-0 win.
Auburn’s bats started the game hot and never cooled off, the Tigers scored five runs in the first inning and scored at least two runs in every inning.
Makayla Packer started the game off with a walk and promptly showcased her speed. She stole second and third before scoring on an error. Sydney Cox hit a home run just a few pitches later to give Auburn a 2-0 lead and open the floodgates.
Aspyn Godwin hit a two-run home run to stretch Auburn’s lead to 4-0 before the Tigers recorded an out.
While 10 different batters got hits for Auburn, it was Cox who stole the show offensively.
Cox, who started at third base, went 4-for-4 with a home run, three doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored and was named the Offensive Player of the Game.
Packer also had a strong performance offensively. Auburn’s centerfielder went 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBI, two runs scored, and stole two bases.
The win was Auburn’s second of the season after they beat Seton Hall 10-3 earlier in the day to open the season.
Auburn jumped out to an immediate 1-0 lead when leadoff batter Parker sent the second pitch she saw over the fence.
The Tigers wasted no time adding on either, adding two more runs in the first inning and three more in the second inning to jump out to a commanding 6-0 lead. That was plenty of room for sophomore pitcher Maddie Penta.
She may have not thrown a no-hitter, but Penta (1-0) was also dominant in the circle for Auburn. The right-hander allowed just two earned runs and four hits in seven innings of work while striking out 16 batters.
Auburn will return to Jane B. Moore Field Saturday for rematches with both Seton Hall and St. John’s. They will face Seton Hall at 2:30 p.m. CT and St. John’s at 5 p.m. CT. Auburn will close play their final game of the Tiger Invitational Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT against UMass Lowell.