Nelia Peralta – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Garcia leads Auburn to run-rule win over Samford

The Tigers have now won four straight games.

Thanks to a five RBI performance from [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag], the No. 19 Auburn Tigers cruised to a 10-0 victory over the Samford Bulldogs, Wednesday night in Birmingham.

Garcia crushed a home run and a double to lead the Tigers to their run-rule win over the Bulldogs. The five RBI ties a career-high and gives her a team-leading 31 on the season.

“I’m just always looking for a pitch I can hit down in the zone,” Garcia said. “I’m just trying to stay relaxed and confident in the box. I just want to help the team any way that I can in any spot in the lineup.”

The game was tight for the first three innings before Auburn (26-9, 4-2 SEC) took a commanding 6-0 lead in the fourth and added four more runs in the fifth to put the game away.

[autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] reached on a fielding error to start the fourth before [autotag]Aspyn Godwin[/autotag] blasted a two-run homer to left. The Tigers added two more runs before the Bulldogs were able to end the inning.

Ellis once again got on base to start the fifth inning, this time by walking. Three of the next four batters walked to drive in a run before Garcia cleared the bases with a double to make it 10-0 Auburn.

The Tigers had just five hits but four went for extra bases and they walked eight times.

“Samford has a solid pitching staff,” said head coach [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag]. “They aren’t going to blow it by you, but they are going to let you get yourself out. I thought our hitters showed a lot of maturity tonight going into deep count and having long at bats.”

[autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] (14-4) got the start for Auburn and pitched 4.0 no-hit innings, striking out eight Bulldogs and walking two. [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] came in to pitch the fifth and closed out the game. It is Auburn’s 15th shutout of the season.

Auburn took advantage of a miscue by Samford to open the scoring in the first inning. Leadoff hitter [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] walked to start the game and came around to score when Samford made a throwing error on a ground ball by [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag] that should have been the third out of the inning.

The Tigers added on in the third inning when Garcia smacked her seventh home run of the season to center field to make it a 2-0 Auburn lead.

The Tigers will return to SEC play Friday when they host the Ole Miss Rebels for a three-game series at Jane B. Moore Field. The games on Friday and Sunday will be streamed on SEC Netowork+ while Saturday’s will be on the SEC Network.

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Auburn softball sweeps Saturday twin bill to clinch series over Missouri

Auburn earns their first SEC series win of the season behind a dominant day in the circle.

A pending weather forecast caused No. 21 Auburn to move Sunday’s middle game of the series with Missouri to a doubleheader on Saturday.

Despite the shift, Auburn adjusted well enough to earn a doubleheader sweep, which clinched their first SEC series win. Behind a record-setting game one from [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], and a solid defensive effort in game two, Auburn defeated Missouri, 4-0 and 2-1 respectively to capture the series.

“We had unbelievable defense by both teams. It was unreal to watch,” head coach Mickey Dean said after Saturday’s wins. “Maddie (Penta) hit her spots and was able to control the lineup (in game one), and what a job that Annabelle (Widra) did coming in so early in relief (in game two). It was two fun games to watch.”

GAME ONE- AUBURN 4 MISSOURI 0

Auburn kickstarted the afternoon by shutting out Missouri, 4-0. There was not much offense in the game, as both teams combined to record just six hits, but two-run blasts by [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag] and [autotag]Aubrie Lisenby[/autotag] were enough for the home-standing Tigers to win.

The key storyline from game one was the dominant effort in the circle by junior pitcher Maddie Penta. Penta allowed zero runs and two hits while striking out 17, which matched a career-high and Auburn record for strikeouts in a single game against an SEC opponent.

“After the game, my heartbeat would not slow down. I wasn’t nervous. I just think I put so much into that game,” Penta said after game one. “Everything was working well. I was just focusing on every pitch, which can be mentally exhausting. I was just trying to do my best for my team.”

[autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag] and [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] joined Garcia and Lisenby by recording a hit in the game. Julia Crenshaw and Chantice Phillips notched the only two hits in the game for Missouri.

GAME TWO- AUBURN 2 MISSOURI 1

Both teams were able to boost their offensive output slightly in game two, but runs still came at a premium. Auburn struck first when [autotag]Jessie Blaine[/autotag] sent Peralta home on an RBI single in the 1st inning, with Missouri tying the game in the ensuing inning on a sacrifice fly by Riley Frizzell to bring the total to 1-1.

The game would remain tied until the final play of the game. With one out in the bottom of the 7th, Peralta hit a ground ball to shortstop, which had the makings for a routine double play. However, the throw from 2nd base to 1st base sailed high, which allowed [autotag]Rose Roach[/autotag] to score from 3rd to give Auburn the walk-off win.

“I was just doing my best to put the ball in play,” Peralta said of her game-winning play. “Luckily, it worked out for us. I’m trying to do my job day in and day out. I’m grateful for the team win.”

Seven batters recorded a hit in the game for Auburn, with Blaine being credited with the lone RBI. [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] and [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] combined to allow seven Missouri hits and one earned run, with Widra earning the win by going 5.1 innings in relief.

“I was doing whatever I could for the team,” Widra said Saturday. “Having our defense behind me helps me relax and trust my pitches. I know if I miss my spot, they are going to pick me up.”

Auburn improves their record to 24-9 and is now over .500 in SEC play at 3-2. Due to forecasted rain in the Auburn area on Sunday, Auburn and Missouri will take a break in their series. Game three will be played at its’ regularly scheduled time on Monday at 6 p.m. CT. The game can be seen live on SEC Network.

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Productive first inning leads Auburn to run-rule win over UAB

Auburn smacks three home runs in their first midweek game of the season.

After two straight weekends of round-robin tournament play, the No. 20 Auburn Tigers welcomed in-state foe UAB for a midweek tilt on Wednesday.

Behind a multiple-hit performance from [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag], [autotag]Icess Tresvik[/autotag], and [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], the Tigers snagged a convincing win, defeating the Blazers 10-1 in five innings at Jane B. Moore Field.

Auburn got off to a great start by scoring half of their runs in the 1st inning. [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag] and [autotag]Jessie Blaine[/autotag] each recorded RBI singles in the inning while Bri Ellis and [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] each clubbed long balls in the inning to move Auburn ahead, 5-0.

Auburn extended its lead to 6-0 in the 2nd inning on a Nelia Peralta double that scored Icess Tresvik. One inning later, Tresvick smashed a two-run blast that was set up by a Makayla Packer RBI triple to extend the Tigers’ lead to 9-0.

The Tigers’ final run would be courtesy of [autotag]Aubrie Lisenby[/autotag]. Lisenby recorded an infield single on the first pitch of her at-bat in the 4th inning that scored [autotag]Axe Milanowski [/autotag]to give Auburn a 10-1 lead. UAB’s lone run of the game took place earlier in the inning when Sierra Frasier hit a solo home run to left field.

Ellis and Tresvik each recorded two hits and two-run home runs in the game to lead the Tigers’ offensive attack. In the circle, [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] allowed zero hits and zero runs while striking out three batters in 3.0 innings. Widra and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] pitched the final two innings combining to allow two hits and striking out two batters.

Auburn softball returns to Jane B. Moore Field this weekend to host the Plainsman Invite. Auburn will face Merrimack, Brown, and North Dakota State over the three-day tournament.

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Softball Notebook: Tigers find success in Clearwater

The Tigers earned four early season wins in dominating offensive fashion

The No. 21 Auburn Tigers are off to a hot start after posting four shutout wins in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.

The Tigers began the weekend by defeating St. John’s and Fordham by a combined score of 15-0. In Auburn’s 6-0 win over St. John’s, sophomore [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] began her Auburn career by striking out ten batters in the circle while [autotag]Carlee McCondichie[/autotag] collected three hits.

Pitching was dominant again in Auburn’s 9-0 run-rule victory over Fordham as [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] struck out 11 in her season debut. The Tigers scored all nine of their runs on just four hits with the biggest coming in the 6th inning. Up five runs in the inning, Auburn’s [autotag]Aspyn Godwin[/autotag] cranked a grand slam to solidify the win.

The second day of the tournament got off to a slow start, as the Tigers dropped their first game of the season to Pittsburgh, 8-7. The Panthers scored seven runs in the 2nd inning to take an 8-2 lead into the 3rd. Auburn would score five unanswered runs over the next two innings to trim the lead to 8-7, but could not gain the necessary two runs to complete the comeback. [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] tallied two runs in the loss.

The Tigers would bounce back later in the day to knock off Indiana, 9-0. It was business as usual for Auburn as five Tigers recorded multiple hits in the game, led by [autotag]Lindsey Garcia[/autotag]’s three. Widra showed her two-way skills by belting a two-run homer in the 4th inning. Penta again was consistent in the circle as she fanned 11 batters for the second outing in a row.

Auburn put a cap on the weekend by defeating Illinois in run-rule fashion, 10-0. Godwin and Widra each hit their second home runs of the weekend in the game, while Penta struck out nine batters and allowed two hits in 4.0 innings of work.

Here’s a full rundown of how this weekend’s action played out for Auburn Softball:

SEC coaches pick Auburn to finish 9th in preseason poll

Auburn Softball is one of ten SEC programs that will begin the season in the top 25.

After winning 40 games last season, the Auburn Tigers are looking to build off of last season’s success and make a deeper run in the NCAA postseason.

The SEC is predicted to be one of the nation’s best conferences again in 2023, as ten teams will begin the season ranked in D1Softball’s preseason poll. With so many strong teams, how will the final standings shake out? Those who know the SEC best, the respective head coaches of the 13 programs that make up the SEC, have revealed their predictions for how they see the conference season unfolding.

For Auburn, the Tigers are projected to finish 9th in the conference.

Florida, the SEC’s lone representative in the 2022 Women’s College World Series, has been voted as the favorite to win the SEC this season. Last season’s tournament champion, Arkansas, is projected to finish 3rd.

Many of Auburn’s offensive weapons return for the 2023 season including [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag] and [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag], as well as strikeout units in [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag].

Here’s a look at the 2023 SEC Coaches Preseason poll.

1	Florida
2	Tennessee
3	Arkansas
4	Alabama
5	LSU
6	Georgia
7	Kentucky
8	Missouri
9	Auburn
10	Ole Miss
11	Mississippi State
12	Texas A&M
13	South Carolina

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Auburn Softball named a ‘Team to Watch’ in SEC

What is Auburn Softball’s ceiling in 2023? D1Softball weighs in.

After winning 40 games last season, the No. 19 Auburn Tigers are poised for another big season.

The Tigers return two of three key pitchers from last season and a myriad of solid bats in the lineup that will be sure to lead them to success. That is why D1Softball has listed Auburn as a “team to watch” in the SEC this season.

As part of their SEC preview, D1Softball believes that Auburn has all the pieces needed to take a step forward in 2023.

The Tigers have all the pieces to make another jump this season providing they can stay healthy, especially in the circle. [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] tried to pitch through pain for the entirety of the 2022 season and her performance understandably suffered. It put even more pressure on [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag], who threw 195.0 innings. If both are back to full strength following Lowe’s offseason surgery, there are few duos in the conference or the country that can match them. The Tigers added some pitcher/utility players to give them more depth in multiple areas. Auburn’s increased strength and conditioning work was apparent last season by the major boost in the offensive numbers. [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag] and [autotag]Makayla Packer[/autotag] are among the players returning who can provide another jolt.

The Tigers open the 2023 slate on Friday, Feb. 11 in Clearwater, Fla. at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Auburn will compete with St. John’s, Fordham, Pittsburgh, Indiana, and Illinois during opening weekend.

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Auburn Softball projected to finish 8th in SEC

D1Softball predicts Auburn to make another run to the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

The 2022 Auburn Tigers returned to a familiar level of play last season by winning 40 games and making a run toward an NCAA Tournament berth.

The excitement continues to build for [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag]’s squad as many of last season’s pieces return in 2023. D1Softball believes that Auburn will build on last season’s success, and make another trip to the postseason.

In what is expected to be a challenging conference slate, D1Softball.com has Auburn projected to finish the season as the No. 8 team in the SEC.

While Auburn is projected to finish in the bottom half of the SEC, the strength of the conference needs to be considered. Despite a No. 8 prediction, Auburn enters the D1Softball preseason poll at No. 19, with seven SEC teams ranked above them.

D1Softball.com’s Projected SEC Standings

Florida
Arkansas
Alabama
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Kentucky
Auburn
Ole Miss
Missouri
Mississippi State
Texas A&M
South Carolina

[autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] return to anchor the pitching staff, while [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag], [autotag]Aspyn Godwin[/autotag], and a plethora of others return to provide offensive power.

The Tigers open the season on Friday, Feb. 10 in Clearwater, Fla. as part of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Auburn will face St. John’s and Fordham on opening day.

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Auburn Softball to open season in D1Softball’s preseason top 25

Auburn is in a good place to capitalize on last season’s 40-win campaign.

Auburn Softball enjoyed its best season since 2018 last year by winning 40 games and making an appearance in the Clemson Regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament.

This season, Auburn’s expectations have risen due to the return of several sluggers and solid pitchers. The potential that Auburn brings into the 2023 season has certainly weighed in on the national media, as the Tigers have made the cut in a preseason top 25 ranking.

D1Softball recently released its preseason rankings and has Auburn opening the season as the No. 19 team in the country. Auburn is one of ten SEC programs to earn a place in D1Softball’s initial rankings.

Auburn returns a plethora of hitters to its lineup including [autotag]Bri Ellis[/autotag], who led the team in home runs, RBI, and slugging percentage in 2022. Notable bats such as [autotag]Aspyn Godwin[/autotag], [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag], and [autotag]Makayla Packer[/autotag] also return to the roster.

[autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] return to the pitching circle as juniors this season. Last year the duo combined to strike out 398 batters, 128 of those strikeouts were against SEC competition.

Here is a look at the initial poll from D1Softball.com

1	Oklahoma
2	UCLA
3	Oklahoma State
4	Florida State
5	Florida
6	Alabama
7	Northwestern
8	Arkansas
9	Clemson
10	Georgia
11	Stanford
12	Tennessee
13	Virginia Tech
14	Texas
15	UCF
16	Kentucky
17	LSU
18	Arizona
19	Auburn
20	Louisiana
21	Washington
22	Duke
23	Oregon
24	North Texas
25	Ole Miss

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