Auburn softball continued its strong start to the season, winning four of its six matchups at the Mary Nutter Classic over the weekend in Cathedral City, California.
Against its toughest batch of opponents so far, the Tigers exceeded expectations, winning two games by run rule and taking down a ranked opponent for the second time this season.
The Tigers will host one more tournament next weekend before SEC play begins in early March. As of today, the Tigers rank right in the middle of the SEC, and given their strength of schedule, that is an extremely respectable spot to be in.
The Tigers kicked off the tournament with a bang on Thursday, securing their biggest win of the weekend by taking down No. 18 Oregon, 10-5.
First baseman AnnaLea Adams and center fielder Ma’Nia Womack led the electric offensive performance, combining to score nine of the Tigers’ 10 runs in the game. The duo traded a pair of three-run home runs in the first two innings, but it was a bases-clearing double by Adams in the top of the seventh that broke the game open and secured Auburn’s second win against a ranked opponent this season.
Auburn’s second game on Thursday did not go in its favor, however. The Tigers were run-ruled in five innings by the No. 9 UCLA Bruins, ending what had been a great day for the team on a sour note. UCLA’s offense exploded for 23 runs, handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season.
Auburn rebounded in its lone game on Friday, taking down BYU, 10-1, in five innings. Womack tallied her second home run of the weekend in the first inning to put the Tigers up two, and back-to-back three-run innings in the second and third put the game out of reach from the start. Third baseman Haven Roebuck, designated player Kyla Stroud and shortstop Alyssa Hasting each drove in two runs, with Roebuck’s coming on a victory-sealing two-run homer in the fourth that capped the bounce-back win. Pitchers Ella Harrison and Abby Herndon combined to allow just one run in five innings, marking a dominant win for the Tigers.
Auburn dropped its first game on Saturday to Washington, losing to the Huskies, 5-2, despite a late comeback attempt in the seventh inning. Auburn was outhit, 11-5, and did not score its first run until late in the final inning. The Tigers also left scoring opportunities on the board, stranding eight runners during the game.
Auburn bounced back once again, however, taking down Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, in a nail-biting pitchers’ duel. Second baseman Destiny Rodriguez accounted for both of the Tigers’ runs on an RBI single in the fourth and a solo homer in the sixth. Harrison returned to the circle and threw all seven innings, holding off a late comeback from the Titans and allowing only three hits.
Auburn ended its weekend in style, dominating Cal, 19-5, in its only matchup on Sunday. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, scoring five or more runs in three separate innings, including a massive nine-run third inning. Right fielder McKaela Walker and third baseman Haven Roebuck each hit two home runs, combining for 10 RBIs in the game. Every player in the Tigers’ lineup scored at least once in the offensive outburst.
Be sure to watch the Tigers as they look to continue their solid play at the Jane B. Moore Memorial Classic in Auburn this weekend.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
