For the first time in program history, an Auburn Tiger has been named SEC Pitcher of the Year.
[autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], a junior from Chesapeake City, Maryland, won the award after putting together an impressive season that ranks among the best in SEC history as well as program history.
Penta finished the year with a 1.12 ERA, a 25-5 record, 16 complete games, and 283 strikeouts to 45 walks. She appeared in 38 games this season and started 32 of them, picking up three saves along the way. The ace right-hander logged 200.1 innings of work this season.
Additionally, Penta was named All-SEC First Team for the second year in a row, the first Tiger to do that since [autotag]Kasey Cooper[/autotag] in 2015-2016. Penta also earned Auburn’s first SEC All-Defensive Team selection since [autotag]Casey McCrackin[/autotag] in 2019.
The Tigers were carried by Penta in conference play, as Penta led them to their highest finish in league play since 2017. She is the first Tiger to record back-to-back seasons with more than 20 wins and more than 250 strikeouts since [autotag]Anna Thompson[/autotag] in 2009-2010.
Penta’s record-setting season also included having the lowest ERA in an SEC season and leading all pitchers with more than 65 innings pitched with a 1.02. Her six shutouts in SEC play tied [autotag]Kristen Keyes[/autotag]’ 2004 season for most in program history.
[autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag] and [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] also earned All-SEC honors, being named to the league’s second team.
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