Big innings lift Auburn softball to Friday sweep at War Eagle Classic - Auburn University Athletics (2024)

<strong>AUBURN, Ala. – </strong>A pair of big innings propelled Auburn softball (19-11-1) to a Friday sweep of Louisiana Tech (23-10) and Georgia Tech (24-15) to open the War Eagle Classic at Jane B. Moore Field.<br /><br />Auburn used a six-run fifth inning to walk off a 9-1 win over Louisiana Tech to open Friday's slate. Trailing to Georgia Tech by three through five innings, Auburn stormed back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the comeback victory.<br /><br />&quot;We were hitting that ball in the air a lot and we need to get it down,&quot; said head coach Mickey Dean. &quot;It took us another two innings to make the adjustment. Aubrie (Lisenby) hits that ground ball and then all of the sudden we go on a little tear there. They switch pitchers and then all the sudden we can get the ball aloft and drive it. It was a nice adjustment by our hitters. I didn't think we had a hit until the sixth inning, but we rose from there.&quot;<br /><br />Makayla Packer led the team over the doubleheader with a 3-for-5 outing with two runs scored. Amelia Lech drove in three runs over Auburn's two games. Annabelle Widra turned in a 3-for-6 effort at the plate with a double and two RBI and earned the win over Georgia Tech in relief.<br /><br />The Tigers tallied 10 hits in Friday's opening contest to drive in their nine runs. Anna Wohlers, KK McCrary and Packer all turned in multi-hit performances in the contest from the top three spots in the lineup. Widra also turned in a multi-hit hit outing, including the walk-off hit in the fifth.<br /><br />Auburn took advantage of a Bulldog error in the first inning, plating a pair of unearned runs with a off a Nelia Peralta sacrifice fly and a wild pitch. Widra pushed the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI single up the middle.<br /><br />The 3-0 lead held until the top of the fifth as the Bulldogs used a two-out single to center to get on the board. The Tigers responded in the home half of the frame with back-to-back solo homers from Wohlers and McCrary.<br /><br />Auburn loaded the bases with two singles and a walk before Lech pushed the score to 6-1 with a sacrifice fly. A Bulldog error allowed another run to score before Icess Tresvik stole home to make it an 8-1 game. Widra delivered the walk-off hit with a single up the middle.<br /><br />Shelby Lowe tossed the gem as she went the distance for her first complete game of the season. She scattered four hits and a walk in her five innings while striking out six. She improved to 5-3 on the season.<br /><br />Georgia Tech jumped out to an early start in Friday's night cap. The Yellow Jackets used a Mallorie Black solo home run to take a 1-0 lead before a Tiger error in the inning ultimately let two unearned runs to score.<br /><br />Auburn was held hitless until the fifth inning, but the Tigers continued to make noise late to rally for four runs in the sixth. With two on via a pair of singles, an infield hit from Tresvik put Auburn on the board. Lech cleared the bases with a double to center to tie the game at 3-3. Freshman Mariah Penta came up with the game-winning hit as her double pushed across the fourth run of the frame.<br /><br />Widra earned the win in relief to move to 4-1 on the season. In her one inning of work, she gave up two hits and struck out one. Maddie Penta earned the start. She scattered five hits and was tagged with just one earned run. Penta re-entered the game in the seventh inning to earn the save. She struck out nine, including initiating a strike out, throw out double play to end the game.<br /><br />Auburn concludes the War Eagle Classic on Saturday with another twin billing versus Louisiana Tech and Georgia Tech. First pitch versus the Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. CT with Saturday's contest versus Georgia Tech set for 4 p.m. CT. Both games are available on the SEC Network+.<br /><br /><br />