The Auburn softball team started its season with a bang, taking four out of its first five games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
Overall, the Tigers took both games of their doubleheader on Friday, split their two games on Saturday and capped the weekend off with a bang by winning their lone Sunday matchup.
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 07 - Auburn’s Destiny Rodriguez (34) during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the #9 Clemson Tigers at Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, FL on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Photo by David Gray/Auburn Tigers
Even with Saturday giving the Tigers their only loss of the entire classic, it was arguably the Tigers' best set of games.
Not only did Auburn take down a top-tier opponent in No. 9 Clemson, but it also combined for 21 total runs in the two games played that day. In a tournament in which the Tigers were hoping to put themselves on the map, it is safe to say they were successful.
The Tigers' inaugural matchup of the classic saw them take down the unranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 5-4.
After a strong first three innings that saw Auburn take a 4-1 lead, the Tigers were able to hold off a late rally by Notre Dame.
A clutch triple in the top of the seventh by AnnaLea Adams ended up being the deciding run, as SJ Guerin pitched a complete game for the Tigers, holding the Fighting Irish’s tying run at third base while securing the final two outs.
Third baseman Haven Roebuck led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double while driving in and scoring a run.
The Tigers' offense exploded in their second game on Friday as they defeated Michigan State, 9-6.
Auburn answered back after going down by two runs in the first inning, thanks to a grand slam by McKaela Walker that helped spark a five-run second inning.
Ella Harrison secured her first save of the season in dominant fashion, striking out three batters in the final 1.1 innings of the game.
Auburn’s biggest win of the weekend came during its first game on Saturday, as it soundly beat No. 9 Clemson, 10-5.
First baseman AnnaLea Adams started the Tigers off hot with a two-run homer to begin the game.
With Auburn up by only two heading into the top of the seventh, the Tigers put together a game-sealing four-run inning, two of which came on a two-run double by catcher Kylie Brockman.
Auburn’s only loss of the weekend came in an extra-inning nail-biter against Pittsburgh, as the Tigers fell 12-11 in nine innings.
The game still had many positive takeaways for Auburn. The Tigers came back from an 8-2 deficit after the second inning, even taking the lead late in the game after scoring five runs in the sixth.
AnnaLea Adams collected yet another home run, and Haven Roebuck led the team with five RBIs on two doubles.
Auburn’s final game on Sunday was its lowest-scoring affair of the weekend, but strong pitching performances helped the Tigers take down Penn State, 4-3.
Auburn won the game in walk-off fashion after coming back from a 3-2 deficit heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
With the game-winning run on third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, right fielder McKaela Walker reached on an error, sending Auburn home victorious and ending the weekend on an extremely high note.
The Tigers now have the War Eagle Classic to look forward to next week, where they will take on four different teams at their home venue, Jane B. Moore Field.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
