AUBURN, Ala. – Southeastern Conference member Auburn (2-0) threw a no-hitter in game one and used a four-run sixth inning in the nightcap to complete a doubleheader sweep of Southeast Missouri (0-2) Saturday. The Tigers won by scores of 8-0 and 5-1.
Maddie Penta tossed a five-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts to lead Auburn to its shutout in game one.
Only four Redhawks reached base against Penta, none of which made it into scoring position. All four of SEMO's baserunners walked.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a two-run home run to left by three-hole hitter Kelsey Schmidt.
After adding two more runs in the second, Auburn scored four more in the third inning. Aspyn Godwin smacked a three-run home run and Makayla Packer scored an unearned run aided by an error with the bases loaded to finish off the eight-run win.
Penta (1-0) faced 18 hitters in her complete game no-hit shutout.
Rachel Rook (0-1) took the loss giving up four runs on three hits in two innings. Rook also struck out two and walked two.
Katie Dreiling relieved Rook in the third and allowed four runs on two hits in two innings during her first career appearance as a Redhawk. Dreiling, too, finished with a pair of strikeouts.
Additionally, Auburn tallied five hits and SEMO committed three errors.
Both teams were scoreless through four-and-a-half innings before Auburn broke the deadlock with a run in the bottom of the fifth of game two.
The Tigers used an infield hit and back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. Sydney Cox touched home when Kaylee Horton grounded out to grab Auburn a 1-0 edge.
SEMO tied things up in the top of the sixth when
Ashley Ellis hit a leadoff double down the right field line and scored on a one-out double by
Karsyn Davis. The Redhawks would leave a runner stranded at second base leaving the score at 1-1.
The Tigers, however, answered with their big inning in the bottom half of the sixth.
Godwin regained the lead for Auburn with a two-RBI triple to center and scored on an ensuing double by Packer. Packer later scored on a groundout to put the Tigers ahead, 5-1.
SEMO outhit Auburn, 10-9, in game two with Ellis, Davis and
Ashley Emert leading the way with two hits each.
Rachel Anderson also walked twice in the doubleheader and, as a result, tied the program's all-time career record in bases on balls. Anderson and Alex Ramirez (2007-10) each have 88 career walks.
Paytience Holman (0-1) suffered the loss. Holman gave up nine hits, five runs, struck out six and walked one in 5.1 innings.
The Redhawks and Tigers wrap up their series with one more game at 12 p.m., CT Sunday.
