CLEARWATER, Fla. – Flexing its power at the plate in the middle innings, No. 25 Auburn softball (6-0) opened the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational Presented by Wilson with a 7-1 come-from-behind victory over Texas Tech (3-2) at the Eddie C. More Complex.
Improving in 6-0 to start the 2022 season, Auburn has now outscored opponents 57-5. With two home runs in Thursday's game, Auburn has knocked 10 total this season with the bombs coming from seven different Tigers.
"I thought Shelby (Lowe) battled through," said head coach Mickey Dean. "She wasn't sharp in the beginning. Her wrist was bothering her a little, but then she settled in and battled. That's what I love about her. She's a tiger."
Texas Tech jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of second, plating a run on a Arriana Villa sacrifice fly. The run was the first given up by sophomore Shelby Lowe this season.
Auburn responded in the home half of the inning. With a pair on thanks to a Texas Tech error and a walk, sophomore Denver Bryant tied the game with a single up the middle. The run was the first allowed be Texas Tech's Kendall Fritz this year.
The Red Raiders recorded the second out of the inning with a pop up back to pitcher, but an error on an overthrow at first base in an attempt to double up the Tigers allowed the go-ahead run to score.
"It was good base running," Dean added. "You want to take advantage of mistakes on defense. I thought our hitters did an exceptional job of sticking to the game plan."
Freshman Jessie Blaine pushed the Tiger lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth with her first collegiate home run. The solo shot carried to left field just clearing the fence.
Auburn broke open the game in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Makayla Packer and sophomore Sydney Cox knocked back-to-back singles to center to put runners on the corners with one out. Cox's hit extended her hit streak to sixth consecutive games.
Freshman Nelia Peralta drove a single up the middle to plate a run before freshman Bri Ellis welcomed new pitcher Olivia Riain into the game with a three-run blast to left field, her third home run of the season.
Ellis closed the game 1-for-3 with three RBI off her home run. Bryant recorded Auburn's lone multi-hit performance with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a triple and RBI.
Auburn relied on its sophomore pitchers Maddie Penta and Lowe. Starting the game, Lowe went five innings, allowing one run off a pair of hits. Lowe issued her first walk of the season and struck out three. Lowe improved to 3-0 in the circle.
Penta tossed the final two innings, one-hitting the Red Raiders. Penta fanned three of the seven batters she faced.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to Eddie C. Moore Complex on Friday for a doubleheader slate. Auburn faces Wisconsin Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. CT on ESPN+. Facing its first top-25 opponent of the season, Auburn is slated to take on No. 11 Texas at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network.
