Riley McNemar – Syndication Server

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.

War Eagle🦅🧡 pic.twitter.com/pmVQB8OoSe

— SJ Geurin (@sjg__85) June 22, 2024

Auburn utility star Annabelle Widra has entered the transfer portal

Auburn softball’s most versatile player has entered the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains.

Auburn softball’s most versatile player from the 2024 roster has entered the transfer portal.

[autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag], who pitched and played infield for the Tigers over the last two seasons, has become the first notable post-[autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag] era departure as she plans to enter the transfer portal according to Softball America and D1Softball.

Widra joined Auburn’s roster ahead of the 2023 season after spending her freshman season at Michigan. The Hoover native played all over the infield during her two seasons on the Plains. She earned 36 starts at third base, eight starts at second base, one start at shortstop, and two starts as the designated player. In addition to her work in the field, she made 48 appearances in the circle with 16 starts.

Widra developed a strong bond with outgoing head coach Mickey Dean. Near the end of the season, Widra shared her feelings towards her head coach on X (formerly Twitter).

Many people don’t know what it’s like on the inside, but what you need to know is this man changed my life,” Widra said of Dean. “There are not enough words to describe how grateful I am for him! Coach Dean will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is because of him I love softball again.”

Widra’s Auburn career ends as a .256 hitter with five home runs and 11 RBI with five stolen bases. As a pitcher, Widra boasted a 14-8 record with 113 strikeouts to 20 walks with a 2.77 ERA. Widra joins [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag] as players from 2024’s roster who have entered the transfer portal.

Maddie Penta, Shelby Lowe combine for no-hitter in Auburn’s drubbing of UAB

Maddie Penta and Shelby Lowe teamed up to strike out seven batters in Auburn’s blowout win over the Blazers on Tuesday.

It has become normal for Auburn pitchers to toss gems against non-conference opponents. Tuesday’s action was no exception.

[autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] combined to strike out seven batters while allowing zero runs or hits in Auburn’s 9-0 run-rule win over UAB Tuesday night at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn. The no-hitter was Auburn’s 35th of all time, and the first for the Tigers since last Wednesday’s game against Samford when Auburn’s staff combined to toss the fourth perfect game in program history.

Penta picked up her 12th win on Tuesday by tossing four innings of shutout softball, striking out five batters. She suffered two blemishes in the game, one took place in the 1st inning when she hit the second batter of the game, and the next was a base-on-balls in the 4th inning. Lowe took over in the 5th inning, striking out two of the three batters she faced to lock down the win.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag] was pleased with the effort his two pitchers gave in the circle.

“We got off to a nice start,” Dean said postgame. “We continued to build off that. Our pitchers worked ahead. We averaged 15 pitches an inning, which is exactly where we want to be. We did a nice job.”

Auburn’s work at the plate began early as they ended the 1st inning with a four-run cushion. [autotag]Icess Tresvik[/autotag] scored two runs on a single to right field while [autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag] drove home two additional runs on a double to left field. A fielder’s choice by UAB allowed [autotag]Anna Wohlers[/autotag] to score in the 2nd inning to extend Auburn’s lead to 5-0, which paved the way for another big inning.

Auburn added three more runs in the 3rd inning thanks to two RBI singles by Wohlers and [autotag]Nelia Peralta[/autotag]. The final blow was delivered by [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag], who sent Axe Milanowski home on a sacrifice fly.

Auburn will look to carry the momentum earned from Tuesday’s win to Baton Rouge this weekend. The Tigers will face No. 6 LSU this weekend for a three-game set beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CT.

N🚫-N🚫 ALERT!

Maddie Penta and Shelby Lowe combine for the 35th no-hitter in program history! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/vjMdZyiR6e

— Auburn Softball (@AuburnSoftball) April 10, 2024

Lowe, Widra combine to no-hit Southeast Missouri in Plainsman Invite opener

Auburn kicks off the weekend in dominating fashion as Shelby Lowe and Annabelle Widra combined to strike out nine batters in a run-rule affair.

After spending a successful weekend in Mexico, Auburn softball returned to the Plains on Friday to kick off the Plainsman Invite.

The Tigers used the momentum gained at the Puerto Vallarta College Classic last week to fuel a dominating performance against Southeast Missouri on Friday afternoon. [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] launched two home runs and locked down a no-hitter in the circle alongside [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] as Auburn defeated the Redhawks, 8-0, in five innings.

Lowe started the game in the circle and struck out seven batters over three innings of work. Widra, who started the game at shortstop, completed the final two innings by striking out two more batters. Head coach [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag] says that he was pleased with the way that Lowe, Widra, and the rest of the team took advantage of the opportunities given to them.

“Shelby (Lowe) had a lot of strikeouts and kept them way off balance. Annabelle (Widra) pitched perfection and then hit two home runs. There’s not a whole lot not to like. It’s important that we focus on those opportunities. I thought we did a nice job today. The players that we put into the game took advantage of what was in front of them.”

[autotag]Icess Tresvik[/autotag] joined Widra by recording multiple hits in the game by adding two to Auburn’s total of nine. Amelia Lech drove in two runs on a double in the 4th inning while [autotag]KK McCrary[/autotag], [autotag]Anna Wohlers[/autotag], and [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag] each added one RBI.

The weekend schedule has been altered due to what Auburn softball has referred to as “unforseen circumstances” that has forced Longwood to exit the Plainsman Invite. Auburn will now face Northern Iowa at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, and will meet Southeast Missouri in a rematch at 4 p.m. CT before concluding the weekend with Northern Iowa on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. Saturday’s games are still slated to be broadcast on SEC Network+.