For the first time in 11 months, Auburn softball had a game at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers opened up the 2021 season on Saturday with a pair of wins as they defeated Southeast Missouri State 8-0 and 5-1 in Saturday’s doubleheader.
Game 1:
Auburn may have scored eight runs in the first game, but the star was true freshman pitcher Maddie Penta who pitched a no-hitter in her debut.
Penta pitched all five innings for the Tigers and allowed only four walks in the contest while striking out seven batters. Her no-hitter was the 26th in program history.
“For a long, long time, ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been waiting to have this opportunity,” Penta said. “I’ve been working for it. To be able to step out on this field and be with this amazing and amazing coaching staff is all I could hope for. It was amazing.”
Penta was not the only freshman to make an impact as Kelsey Schmidt hit a two-run homer in her first career at-bat in the bottom of the first.
Auburn continued to add run support in the second inning as Kaylee Horton’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded drove in two runs in the second.
In the third, Aspyn Godwin’s 3-run home run combined with an unearned run because of Southeast Missouri State errors gave Auburn an 8-0 lead.
After the Redhawks went three-up, three-down in the top of the fifth inning, the game ended.
Game 2:
Saturday’s second game was a pitcher’s duel until a four-run sixth inning broke the tie and helped Auburn come away with the win.
Another true freshman got the start at pitcher for Auburn as Shelby Lowe made her debut. Lowe pitched 5.1 innings allowing eight hits, one walk, one run and struck out 11.
In the bottom of the fifth, with the game tied 0-0, Auburn scored first as Horton’s ground out to second, advanced the runners, and gave Auburn a 1-0 lead.
Auburn’s 1-0 lead did not last long as the Redhawks answered in the sixth inning with a double to send the runner on second home. After Southeast Missouri State tied things up, KK Dismukes came in to replace Lowe.
Dismukes pitched the rest of the contest and finished with 1.2 innings pitched and allowed just two hits and one walk in relief.
The Redhawks came close to scoring again in the sixth, but a throw from center field to home by freshman Makayla Packer to Godwin saved a run.
“Our defense was tremendous today,” said head coach Mickey Dean. “We played 12 innings today, had some assists from the outfield, no errors and great decisions. That’s what excites me. Making key plays in key situations is always important, no matter what sport. You know what to do, but can you execute? We did tonight and that’s what was important.”
Dismukes struck out the next batter to end the sixth inning.
Godwin came up clutch for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, as her triple scored two runs. Auburn was not done as Packer drove in Godwin with a double.
Packer stole third, and Makenna Dowell’s ground out sent Packer home for the Tigers’ fourth and final run of the inning.
Auburn took a 5-1 lead into the seventh, and after a pop-up for the third out, the Tigers walked away with the win.
The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field for the third and final game against Southeast Missouri State at noon.
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Jake Weese, senior in journalism with a minor in history, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
