Tag: Maddie Penta

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Maddie Penta signs professional contract with Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball

After a successful career at Auburn, ace pitcher Maddie Penta has signed to go pro with Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball

The softball season has come to a close for Auburn softball after its exit in the regional round in Tallahassee. A lot of moves are being made now within the program, but not everything is happening in a sad fashion.

Auburn ace pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] is continuing to make statements and signed with Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball for the AUX season in Wichita, Kansas.

The AUX season consists of 42 athletes playing in 18 games prior to the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball championship season in July. This is the third year of AUX competition.

In her four years on the Plains, Penta was the winningest pitcher in Auburn history with 76 wins. She was also a two-time NFCA All-American and the 2023 SEC Pitcher of the Year.

She was one of just two pitchers in the history of the Tigers to pitch over 900 strikeouts. She also has the most career appearance with 122 and most career combined shutouts with 20. She pitched 15 complete games in here senior season.

The AUX Softball Series 1 Draft will be on June 7, with the AUX season beginning on June 10.

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Maddie Penta earns another All-America honor

After finishing up a successful career on the Plains, Auburn’s ace earns All-American honors for the second year in a row.

Auburn’s softball season ended on May 19 with a loss to Florida State in the regional finals of the Tallahassee Regional. Despite that, not everything has proven to be bitter about the ending of the season.

For ace pitcher [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], she is ending her career on the Plains with some honors. She is walking away as an All-American for the second straight season, earning a Third Team placement by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Her All-America accolade goes as the 17th one earned by an Auburn player and the first to go back-to-back years since [autotag]Kasey Cooper[/autotag] and [autotag]Emily Carosone[/autotag] in 2015 and 2016. She is the only pitcher in Tiger history to rack up multiple NFCA All-America honors.

Penta posted a 1.90 earned run average, giving up 55 earned runs over her 202.1 innings of work in 2024. She also struck out 264 batters, which contributed to opposing players batting just .184 against her.

She goes down as the winningest pitcher in program history with 76 wins over the course of her career. She went 16-10 this season, posting 15 complete games in 30 starts.

Penta finished her time at Auburn in the top seven of 15 career pitching categories. On top of being the all-time winningest pitcher, she has the most career starts at 122 career combined shutouts at 20. She is also the only Tiger to record multiple perfect games in her career, being part of two this season.

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Auburn’s season, Dean era concludes with loss to Florida State in Tallahassee Regional

Auburn fell in the Tallahassee Regional final on Sunday to wrap up its 2024 campaign.

Auburn softball’s season officially ended Sunday with a loss to Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional final, 10-4. With the loss comes the end of a bittersweet era in the program.

Auburn’s loss to Florida State marked the official end to the tenure of [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag], the Tigers head coach since taking over for [autotag]Clint Myers[/autotag] in 2017. Dean built a 235-130 record with six NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons on the Plains and a 63-83 SEC record.

Auburn fans also watched the career of [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] conclude on Sunday. Penta is one of the most decorated athletes in Auburn history with three All-American honors, six All-SEC honors, and was the 2023 SEC Pitcher of the Year. In four seasons, Penta boasted a 76-36 record with a 1.79 ERA and 941 strikeouts in 706 innings pitched.

The Tigers end the 2024 season with a 29-21-1 record and a 9-15 mark in SEC play. Auburn ended the season by competing in a regional final for the second season in a row and will lose just three seniors from this season’s roster.

Auburn softball will begin its hunt for a new head coach this offseason and will look to find its new “ace” pitcher ahead of the 2025 season that begins next February.

Recap: Auburn softball drops 14-inning heartbreaker to Georgia

A late Georgia rally forces Auburn to exit early from the SEC Tournament.

Softball fans were treated to a classic with the third game of the SEC Softball Tournament between No. 10 seed Auburn and No. 7 seed Georgia. However, the host Tigers were on the losing end.

Tied 2-2 going to the 14th inning, Auburn’s [autotag]KK McCrary[/autotag] blasted a three-run home run to right field to put the Tigers ahead, 5-2. However, Georgia responded by hitting two home runs in the bottom frame to walk away with the 6-5 1st round win over Auburn on Wednesday at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn.

The 4-hour and 21-minute marathon, an SEC record, began with Auburn jumping out to a 1-0 lead on an Icess Tresvik single that scored McCrary in the 1st inning. Georgia responded by scoring two runs in the bottom frame to take the 2-1 lead.

Amelia Lech hit a ball deep enough to left field to score the speedy Makayla Packer to tie the game at 2-2 in the 2nd inning. Both teams would fail to plate runs over the next 10 innings before McCrary’s three-run homer broke the spell in the 14th inning. Over the drought, Auburn recorded just three hits and stranded eight base runners.

Georgia responded to McCrary’s slam by hitting a three-run shot of their own. Jayda Kearney tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the 14th with her three-run blast and Sarah Gordon delivered the final blow by hitting a solo home run with two outs in the inning to put the game to bed.

McCrary and Packer recorded two hits in the contest with McCrary winning the RBI race with three. In the circle, [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] combined to strike out 10 batters while allowing 11 hits and walking eight. Penta struck out six batters and allowed three hits while walking six batters over nine full innings of work. Lowe finished the final 4 2/3 innings by striking out four and walking two while allowing eight hits.

Auburn will now await its NCAA Tournament fate. According to Softball America’s recent bracketology, the Tigers are forecasted to compete in the Tallahassee Regional hosted by Florida State alongside FAU and Chattanooga.