AUBURN, Ala. – Maddie Penta struck out 16 consecutive batters to record her second no-hitter of her freshman season as Auburn softball closed out the Tiger Invite with a sweep IUPUI in Saturday's doubleheader finale.
Penta carried a perfect game bid into the seventh inning before IUPUI (0-4) drew a walk to erase the chance. Penta get out of the jam with her 17th strikeout to leave two Jaguars stranded to improve to 5-0 in the circle in Auburn's 5-0 victory.
"I always tell people how lucky I am because of the kids I've gotten to coach in my career," said head coach Mickey Dean. "You can go your whole life and not see some of the things that I have."
Penta's 17 strikeouts were the second most in a single game in program history. She allowed just two walks, both coming in the seventh inning.
"I strive to be great every time I take the mound," said Penta. "I expect that of myself, and I know Coach Dean expects that of me."
Auburn (10-1) used a five-run third inning, highlighted by freshman Makayla Packer's first career grand slam to cap the doubleheader with a second 5-0 victory against IUPUI.
Freshman Shelby Lowe earned the start in Saturday's nightcap. The lefty tossed three innings, allowing two hits while striking out five. Junior Samantha Yarbrough (1-1) earned her first victory, tossing three innings in relief. Yarbrough worked around one hit and five walks to keep the Jaguars off the board. She struck out six in the outing.
Sophomore KK Dismukes tossed the final inning, striking out two.
Auburn's pitching staff was lights out over the Tiger Invitational, allowing just one run in 35 innings for a team earned run average of 0.20.
GAME ONE RECAP
IUPUI and Auburn were locked in a pitching duel through the first three innings with Penta ultimately retiring the first 16 batters she faced all via strikeouts. The Tigers broke through in the top of the fourth as junior Aspyn Godwin led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.
In a pinch-hit appearance, senior Abby Tissier knocked a one-out single to left field. Senior Kaylee Horton entered the game as a pinch runner and quickly swiped second before advancing to third on a throwing error by the Jaguars' catcher.
Freshman Lindsey Garcia would drive her home with a ground ball to short.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, freshman Sydney Cox doubled to left center before Packer got on board with a bunt single to first. Pinch hitter Maia Engelkes reached on a fielder's choice as IUPUI made the tag at home plate to retire Cox, but Packer would come around to score as the Jaguars attempted to throw out Engelkes at second base.
Godwin would make it a 5-0 game as she slugged a triple to right center before scoring on an IUPUI error.
Penta carried a perfect game bid into the seventh inning. Graduate student Justus Perry recorded the first out snagging a pop up in foul territory. Penta's first walk of the game would break up the perfect game.
Senior Makenna Dowell made an athletic play at short, firing a throw to second for the force on a fielder's choice to save the no-hitter. After a second walk, a failed pickoff attempt moved both Jaguars into scoring position with two outs, but Penta closed the door with her 17th strikeout of the game.
GAME TWO RECAP
After two scoreless innings, the Auburn bats woke up in the third. Senior Tyler King led off the inning with a single up the middle, before swiping second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Dowell put runners on the corners with a walk.
Entering the game as a pinch runner, sophomore Maddison Koepke swiped second. Cox would then load the bases with a bunt single before Packer delivered the devasting blow with a grand slam to centerfield.
Auburn loaded the bases again with three consecutive walks. Garcia just missed a grand slam of her own, but her fly ball to center was deep enough to allow pinch runner Jadia Jones to score the fifth run of the inning.
TIGER TRACKS
- Maddie Penta is the first Auburn pitcher to toss at least 15 strikeouts in a game since Chardonnay Harris (17) versus No. 7 Florida on April 27, 2019.
- Penta's 17 strikeouts tied Harris and Kristen Keyes (2004) for the second most strikeouts in a single game in Auburn program history. Anna Thomson (2009) holds the program record with 18.
- Penta is the first Auburn pitcher to toss multiple no-hitters in the same season since Marcy Harper recorded two in the 2014 season.
- Penta improved to 5-0, keeping pace with Makayla Martin's 2016 freshman season. Martin won 10 consecutive games for the Tigers before picking up her first loss.
- Aspyn Godwin recorded her team-leading fourth home run of the season. It was the seventh of her career.
- Makayla Packer slugged her second home run of the season with her grand slam shot in game two.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to action next week, hosting Troy, Southern Miss and Southeastern Louisiana for the Auburn Invitational. The Tigers will face the Trojans on Thursday, March 4 at 5 p.m. CT to open the tournament.