After a shutdown performance from Haley Rainey and SJ Geurin, Auburn softball completed a clean sweep, going six-for-six at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational following the team's close win against the Liberty Flames on Sunday. With the 2-1 win at Eddie C. Moore Complex, Auburn became the first team since Florida State in 2019 to go 6-0 at the invitational.
Geurin was the highlight of the weekend for Auburn, putting up a 0.62 earned run average and earning four wins and two saves in 22.2 innings pitched.
“It was one of those ‘grind it out’ type of games,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “We battled the elements today as we had a few balls get caught up in the wind. That helped keep the score a little closer. We weren’t as sharp today and a little gassed, but we made things happen in the circle. We took care of the ball defensively. We did everything we could to keep them from crossing the plate.”
The scoring came early for the Tigers, earning their only two runs in the first inning. With no outs in the first, the Tigers immediately drew three walks, loading the bases and putting Nelia Peralta and Icess Tresvik into scoring position. To start off the scoring, KK McCrary was granted first base after being hit in the helmet by a wild pitch, allowing Peralta to come home.
Skylar Elkins followed with a single into center, bolting the Tigers into a two-run lead. Abbey Smith joined Elkins in being the only two Tigers to record a hit on Sunday.
Rainey had a dominant start to the game, pitching 4.1 innings and boasting zero earned runs. The right hander put up two strikeouts and one walk to keep the flames from scoring early in the game.
Geurin entered the game during the fifth inning, stranding a runner at third and sending the game to the bottom of the fifth. She continued her commanding weekend, pitching a gutsy 2.2 innings and picking up her second save of the weekend in Clearwater. The lefty gave up just three hits and one run, keeping the flames from taking the lead. Geurin capped the weekend off with two earned runs and nine strikeouts in total.
The Tigers displayed dominant defending on Sunday, keeping the flames at bay for six innings. The singular Flames run was scored off a sacrifice fly hit by Savannah Woodard in the top of the seventh inning. Liberty’s efforts fell short, though, with its tying run left stranded in scoring position as Geurin delivered her only strikeout of the game to keep the contest from going into the bottom of the seventh.
Auburn looks to continue its dominant start to the season and nonconference action at the Rocket City Showcase at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama this upcoming weekend. The Tigers open the tournament on Friday, Feb. 21 with a double header against Louisiana Tech and James Madison. The contests start at 1 p.m. CT and all tournament games are available on FloSoftball.
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Emma is a sophomore majoring in journalism-sports production. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
