Tag: auburn softball

Former Auburn ace earns first coaching job

Maddie Penta is staying in the game after completing a historic playing career at Auburn.

Fresh off an amazing career as a pitcher for Auburn softball, [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] is ready to take the next step in her softball journey.

Friday, James Madison University softball head coach Loren LaPorte announced that Penta has been hired as an assistant coach. LaPorte is excited about the potential that Penta brings to the coaching staff.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maddie Penta as our new pitching coach,” LaPorte said in a press release. “With her impressive track record, Maddie brings a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective that will be instrumental in developing our pitching staff. Her passion and work ethic aligns perfectly with our vision, and we are confident that her leadership will enhance our capabilities and success.”

Penta is excited for the next stop in her softball career and has high hopes for her first gig.

“I am incredibly excited to join a program with such a great reputation and culture,” Penta said. “I’m looking forward to working with this talented group of athletes and helping the program get back to the Women’s College World Series.”

Penta’s duties as an assistant coach at James Madison are unknown, but it is safe to assume she will work with Dukes pitching in some capacity. James Madison is coming off a 31-22 campaign in 2023 where it missed the postseason after taking an early exit in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

Penta’s Auburn career ended with 941 strikeouts in 706 innings with an ERA of 1.79. She also grabbed plenty of accolades during her four-year campaign on the Plains. Several of those include second-team All-SEC, third-team All-America by NFCA, and the 2023 SEC pitcher of the year.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Auburn softball star Emily Carosone named head coach at Campbell

The former Auburn star has earned her first head coaching job.

Former Auburn star and assistant coach [autotag]Emily Carosone[/autotag] has earned her first head coaching gig.

According to a report by Justin McLeod of D1Softball, Carosone is set to become the new head coach at Campbell University, a member of the Coastal Athletic Association in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Carosone takes over for the departing Trena Prater, who was hired to take on the head coaching role at Memphis earlier this month.

Carosone takes the job just 11 days after accepting the position of associate head coach at Troy. Before her time in Troy, Carosone spent six seasons as an assistant head coach at her alma mater. She played a vital role in the success of the Tigers’ defense, served as first base coach, and was named associate head coach ahead of the 2024 season.

Carosone’s first head coaching job will take place in a favorable environment. Last season, the Camels built a 37-21-1 record and a CAA regular season title after posting a 22-5 showing in conference play.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Tiger Emily Carosone named associate head coach at Troy

Carosone will play a key role in player development as a member of the Trojans’ coaching staff.

Former Auburn All-American [autotag]Emily Carosone[/autotag] was named the associate head coach for Troy softball last week.

A former three-time All-American and 2015 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2015, Carosone spent the last four seasons as Auburn’s assistant head coach before earning the head coaching gig with Troy.

The 31-year-old finished her playing career as the Tigers’ all-time leader in batting average, runs scored, hits, on-base percentage, and hit by pitch. A native of Orlando, Florida, her collegiate career carried plenty of magic, as she led the Tigers to the College World Series twice. Following her playing days at Auburn, Carosone spent time in the professional softball ranks before representing Team Italy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

After starting all five games for Italy at the games, the star infielder led her country to a gold medal in the Women’s Softball European Championship a year later. Carosone transitioned into coaching full-time shortly after, as she worked as an assistant under Auburn head coach Mickey Dean until this past spring.

Now heading to Troy as associate head coach, Carosone will primarily work with Trojan hitters and will look to lead the Trojans to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021. She’ll also likely get a chance to defeat her alma mater at some point next March.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Auburn softball adds transfer pitcher Haley Rainey

Rainey owns a career 2.29 ERA and 43-23 record over three collegiate seasons in the Big West

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and the Auburn football coaching staff haven’t been the only contingent of Tigers coaches making moves this summer.

Auburn softball added a major piece to the pitching rotation on Thursday, as former Cal State Fullerton pitcher [autotag]Haley Rainey[/autotag] announced via Instagram that she will be taking her talents and Big West-leading 1.68 ERA to the Plains next season.

Rainey, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was fantastic in her junior season with the Titans. The right-handed ace racked up 159 strikeouts over 178.2 innings in the Big West. Most impressively, Rainey only allowed 30 extra-base hits throughout the season. Just 2 of those 30 extra-base knocks left the yard.

With star pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] now graduated and set to begin her professional career, Rainey might have just become head coach [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag]’s best option to take over as the Tigers’ No. 1 starting pitcher. The 2024 Big West Pitcher of the Year, Rainey has thrown 440.2 career collegiate innings between Cal State Fullerton and Idaho State. The Adna, Wash. native owns a career 2.29 ERA and a 43-23 record over those three seasons.

While she’ll have to prove she can replicate that dominance in the powerhouse conference that is the SEC, Rainey surely has the tools to be successful on the Plains next season. We’ll see what kind of role she plays for the Tigers as the spring approaches.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Former Auburn infielder Mariah Penta transfers to Maryland

After spending one season at Auburn, the youngest Penta sister is heading back home to Maryland.

Following the end of the season for Auburn softball, many moves have been made within the team’s roster as players are jumping in and out of the transfer portal. One of those players who entered the portal has now found a new home for her softball career.

[autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag] announced her commitment to the University of Maryland, moving back to her home state after just one year on the Plains.

Penta is the younger sister of the Tigers’ former All-American pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], who recently wrapped up her career for the Tigers. Now, Mariah is looking to start a new chapter as her sister heads to the pros.

In her short time with Auburn, Penta appeared in 34 games and made 23 starts, with most of them being as the team’s designated player.

She posted a .207 batting average to go along with 15 RBI, four doubles and three home runs. She also only posted one multi-hit game over the course of the season in an 8-0 win over Georgia State on Feb. 29.

She now heads up to play for a Maryland Terrapins program that is looking to bounce back after a 24-30 campaign in 2024, when its season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Tyler on Twitter @traley34

Former Arkansas catcher Kylie Brockman commits to Auburn

Brockman is Auburn’s third transfer portal addition this cycle, joining former Oklahoma pitcher SJ Geurin and former Ole Miss utility player Ma’Nia Womack.

[autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Katie Malveaux[/autotag] continue to utilize the transfer portal as they have added their third player since taking over as co-head coaches on June 5.

A few days after former Oklahoma pitcher [autotag]SJ Geurin[/autotag] and former Ole Miss utility player [autotag]Ma’nia Womack[/autotag] committed to Auburn via the transfer portal, former Arkansas catcher [autotag]Kylie Brockman[/autotag] has joined the Tigers roster ahead of the 2025 season. Brockman commits to Auburn after appearing in nine games for the Razorbacks in 2024.

Like Geurin, Brockman did not see much action at her previous school. Brockman played behind fellow 2022 signee Kennedy Miller at catcher, thus limiting her time in the lineup.

However, she brings plenty of promise to the Plains. She was the No. 19 player in Extra Innings Softball’s top 100 in 2022 after hitting 14 home runs and sending 53 runs home as a senior at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kansas. Power at the plate is her strong suit, as she was a two-time power-lifting state champion in high school.

It will be interesting to see how the Malveaux’s use Brockman as [autotag]Anna Wohler[/autotag]s, [autotag]Skylar Elkins[/autotag], and [autotag]Aubrie Lisenby[/autotag] are set to return to Auburn at catcher next season. However, with as much power as she possesses it is hard to imagine Brockman not finding a place in Auburn’s lineup.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Auburn INF/P Annabelle Widra finds new home

Annabelle Widra played a variety of positions during her two seasons on the Plains.

One of Auburn’s most valuable roster pieces from last season’s roster has found a new home.

[autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag], who played a variety of infield positions as well as pitched during her two-year stint at Auburn, announced this week that she is transferring to Florida State to play her final eligible season of college softball.

Widra departs Auburn after spending two seasons as a versatile roster piece. Last season, the Hoover native split her 38 starts between third base (21), second base (8), shortstop (1), and designated player (1). In the circle, she made 49 appearances with five starts.

As a pitcher, Widra built a 5-3 record with a 2.86 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings in 2024, which was a step back from her 2023 efforts where she struck out 75 batters over 79 2/3 innings. As a hitter, Widra hit .259 with 22 hits, two home runs, and 11 RBI.

Widra was the first player from the 2024 roster to declare her intention to enter the transfer portal. Widra was later joined by [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag] and [autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag].

Widra’s departure is a tough blow for Auburn as both [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] have both graduated, leaving behind just [autotag]Emmah Rolfe[/autotag] and [autotag]Malayna Tamborra[/autotag] from last season’s staff. The duo combined to strikeout eight batters over 28 2/3 innings in 17 appearances.

New head coaches [autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Kate Malveaux[/autotag] are working to rebuild Auburn’s pitching staff by welcoming in former Oklahoma pitcher [autotag]SJ Geurin[/autotag] from the transfer portal.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Oklahoma pitcher SJ Geurin commits to Auburn

The first signing of the Malveaux era is a two-time national champion.

[autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Kate Malveaux[/autotag] were officially introduced as Auburn softball’s co-head coaches this week and quickly got to work by enhancing the program through the transfer portal.

The Tigers need to rebuild its pitching staff after the departures of [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] to graduation and [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] to the transfer portal. They may have found the first piece in [autotag]SJ Geurin[/autotag].

Geurin, a left-handed pitcher from Leander, Texas, announced Saturday that she is transferring from Oklahoma to Auburn before the 2025 season. The two-time national champion comes to Auburn after recording nine strikeouts in nine appearances for the Sooners last season, earning two wins in the circle.

As the No. 7 pitcher from the 2022 recruiting cycle, Geurin received plenty of attention from elite programs such as Oregon and UCLA before signing with Oklahoma. Geurin never found adequate circle time in Norman after playing behind Jordy Bahl in 2023, as well as Kelly Maxwell and Kierston Deal in 2024. Now at Auburn, Geurin has the chance to become the ace of a power program.

Geurin is the first addition to Auburn’s 2025 from the transfer portal. Three Tigers entered the portal following the season: Annabelle Widra, [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag], and [autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag]. Neither player has found a new home as of the timing of this post.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Auburn softball adds pitching coach Ryker Chason to new staff

The former Ole Miss and LSU assistant is the first hire under Chris and Kate Malvaux’s leadership.

The Auburn softball staff is under reconstruction following [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag]’s retirement at the end of the 2024 season. Following the newest hire of co-head coaches Chris and Kate Malveaux, the Tigers have hired a new coach for the bullpen to assist the pitching staff.

[autotag]Ryker Chason[/autotag] will join the coaching staff in 2025 after being one of the nation’s top coaching free agent moves of the young off-season. Chason makes his way over to Auburn after spending three seasons with Ole Miss, where he coached under Jamie Trachsel.

The Rebel pitching staff combined for a 2.91 earned run average in 2023, which marked the second-lowest ERA under Chason’s direction. His pitchers combined for nine shutouts that season, as well.

Prior to coaching at Ole Miss, Chason assisted Beth Torina at LSU for four seasons as student coach. In that time, he helped coach four NFCA All-Americans that were pitchers, including Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper.

He has most recently spent the last 10 months as the Director of Pitching Growth for OGX Softball.

Now, he looks to make his mark on the Plains with a pitching staff that needs expanding for next year.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Tyler on Twitter @traley34

Auburn softball to compete in 2025 Rocket City Showcase

Auburn softball will invade the home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas next February.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas, the double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, announced Friday that it will host the inaugural Rocket City Showcase next February at Toyota Field in Madison. The field will feature 12 teams, including the Auburn Tigers.

Auburn will play five games as part of the round-robin style format, starting with Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 21. The Tigers will also play James Madison, North Alabama, Miami (Ohio), and Jax State over the weekend.

Teams such as Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State will join Auburn in Madison during the debut classic. Trash Panda’s GM Garrett Fahrmann is excited to share Toyota Field’s atmosphere with a new audience.

“A project like this only happens with everyone pulling together and we can’t wait to see Toyota Field take on a new look for this event in February,” Fahrmann said in a press release. “Our team is known for providing a fun and festive environment for Trash Pandas games and we will bring that same mindset to a great week of softball here at Toyota Field.”

Auburn softball will enter a new era in 2024 as Chris and Kate Malveaux take over as co-head coaches of the program. The Tigers will look to fill the void left behind by star pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], but will return several key bats such as [autotag]KK McCrary[/autotag] and [autotag]Amelia Lech[/autotag].

Auburn will begin the season at the Clearwater Invatational the weekend prior to its trip to Huntsville. A full schedule for the Clearwater Invitational will be released in the fall.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__