Tag: Rose Roach

Auburn softball drops second game of series to Mississippi State

Auburn goes for the series win on Sunday.

After picking up a win in the first game of the series, the Auburn Tigers (38-16, 14-9 SEC) fell 5-4 in nine innings to the Mississippi State Bulldogs (28-23, 7-15 SEC) in the second game of the series at Jane B. Moore Field yesterday afternoon.

“We fought,” said Auburn head coach [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag]. “We have to put ourselves in better defensive positions and clean things up on defense on Sunday. It’s little things, but defense is who we are. We need to return to that.”

Junior left-hander [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] got the start for Auburn and allowed four runs off of seven hits, walked one batter and struck out four in five innings of work. Sophomore right-hander [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] pitched the remaining four innings and allowed one run off of three hits and struck two batters out.

Senior right-hander Aspen Wesley got the start for Mississippi State and allowed two runs off of two hits, walked three batters and struck out two in two innings of work. Freshman right-hander Josey Marron went the rest of the way for the Bulldogs and allowed two runs off of three hits, walked three batters and struck out seven in seven innings on the mound.

Mississippi State got the scoring started in the top of the second inning when graduate catcher Jackie McKenna singled to right field to bring in a run.

Auburn took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when sophomore shortstop [autotag]Rose Roach[/autotag] singled to center field to bring in two runs.

The Bulldogs jumped back in front in the top of the fourth inning when shortstop Madisyn Kennedy hit a two-run homer to left center.

Auburn tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Roach hit a sac-fly to center field to score junior third baseman [autotag]Denver Bryant[/autotag]. The Tigers took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore left fielder [autotag]Abbey Smith[/autotag] scored on an error while base running.

Mississippi State struck back in the top of the sixth inning when McKenna reached on an infield single to drive in the tying run. In the top of the ninth inning, graduate left fielder Chloe Malau’ulu singled up the middle to bring in the go-ahead run. The Tigers were not able to answer back in the bottom of the inning and the Bulldogs picked up the 5-4 victory and evened up the series.

The rubber match is set for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. CDT. The game will be televised 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.”

RELATED: How to watch the Auburn-Missouri series

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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