2023 Softball vs Mississippi State

[Golden Eagle 370]

#15 Auburn softball (37-15, 13-8) plays its final regular-season 3-game series vs Mississippi State (27-22, 6-14) this weekend.

Game 1:  Friday, May 5  @  5:00 pm will be streamed on SEC+   FINAL:  Auburn 5 - MSU 2

Game 2:  Saturday, May 6  @  3:00 pm will be streamed on SEC+  FINAL:  Auburn 4 - MSU 5

Game 3:  Sunday, May 7  @  11:00 am will be broadcast on SEC network   FINAL:  Auburn 3 - MSU 0

I saw that Maddie is going to sing the National Anthem before Sunday's game!  The game is scheduled to be broadcast on the SEC network - hope they'll have footage.

Added 5/6/23:  After yesterday's SEC games, Auburn is in 4th place in the SEC behind Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas.  Alabama is one game behind us.  If we can sweep MSU, we will finish no worse than 4th which will give us a bye in the first round of next week's SEC tournament.  If we lose one game - and Alabama sweeps Ole Miss - we will be tied with Bama but I believe we would still finish 4th because we won 2 out of 3 against them.  Alabama beat Ole Miss 9-0 yesterday.  Fairly confident they will sweep.  We don't want Alabama to pass us!  Really hope we can sweep MSU not only to ensure our final SEC ranking but also to improve our chances of hosting a regional.  CMD says Shelby Lowe is available to pitch with no restrictions - great news if she is back to her freshman form.

Added 5/8/23:  Auburn wins the series, finishes 3rd in the SEC standings and gets a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament.  Alabama and Arkansas both lost on Sunday.  Auburn moved up to 3rd place.

Edited May 8, 2023 by Golden Eagle
Added SEC ranking note

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 2 innings, AU 0 - MSU 0

MSU is making good contact but Auburn defense has made the outs.  Bottom of the 2nd, McCrary hits a single, Bryant hits a double, Tresvik walks.  Bases loaded with no outs.  Next 3 Auburn batters - strike out, strike out, fly out.  Come on, AU offense!

Edited May 5, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 3, still 0-0.  Maddie made quick work of MSU batters.  Once again, Auburn gets batters on base but can't score.

[ArgoEagle 1,791]

10 minutes ago, Golden Eagle said:

After 2 innings, AU 0 - MSU 0

MSU is making good contact but Auburn defense has made the outs.  Bottom of the 2nd, McCrary hits a single, Bryant hits a double, Tresvik walks.  Bases loaded with no outs.  Next 3 Auburn batters out.  Come on, AU offense!

That's just Dead Blame Pitiful!

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 4, Auburn 0 - MSU 0

Once again, Maddie made quick work of MSU.  Auburn gets runners on but can't get them home.  Auburn has left 8 runners on base so far.  They need to borrow the baseball team's batting coach.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After a wild 5th inning, Auburn 1 - MSU 2

Maddie seemed a little off to start the inning.  Walked the first batter, 2nd batter hit a HR.  Then she settled down and took care of business.  Auburn batters got on base and scored 1 on a passed ball but left 2 on base again (for a total of 10 left on base).

[Golden Eagle 370]

After an eventful 6th inning, Auburn finally takes the lead 5-2

Maddie gave up a hit and a walk but settled down and retired the side.  Auburn got 2 on when Bri Ellis hit a 2-RBI deep single.  First time all game Auburn got a hit with RISP.  McCrary hit a perfect bunt that allowed Abbey Smith to score from 3rd on an amazing play. MSU used 3 pitchers this inning and had some miscues (overthrew a ball to 1st, Bryant hit ricocheted off the pitcher's glove, etc.).  We'll take it.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[LPTiger 5,167]

9 minutes ago, Golden Eagle said:

After an eventful 6th inning, Auburn finally takes the lead 5-2

Maddie gave up a hit and a walk but settled down and retired the side.  Auburn got 2 on when Bri Ellis hit a 2-RBI deep single.  First time all game Auburn got a hit with RISP.  McCrary hit a perfect bunt that allowed Abbie Smith to score from 3rd on an amazing play. MSU used 3 pitchers this inning and had some miscues (overthrew a ball to 1st, Bryant hit ricocheted off the pitcher's glove, etc.).  We'll take it.

Thanks Golden!!!

 

[Golden Eagle 370]

Final Auburn 5 - MSU 2

In the top of the 7th, MSU had 2 on with 2 outs and Maddie hit the batter, loading the bases.  Yikes.  Then she struck out the final batter, her 10th strikeout of the game.  Whew.  Auburn will have its hands full with MSU this weekend.  Hard to believe they lost 14 straight SEC games before sweeping #22 Kentucky last weekend and knocking them out of the top 25.  Shelby Lowe has been cleared to pitch without a pitch count.  I'm guessing we may see her tomorrow? 

[Golden Eagle 370]

Game 1 Summary:  Auburn 5 - Mississippi State 2

AU scored 5 runs (2 earned) on 11 hits with 0 errors and 11 left on base.

MSU scored 2 runs (both earned) on 4 hits with 2 errors and 5 left on base.

AU: Penta pitched 7 innings - threw 107 pitches (1 wild), struck out 10, walked 2, hit 1 batter, and gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits.

MSU: Pitched 6 innings - threw 140 pitches (2 wild), struck out 4, walked 3, and gave up 5 runs (2 earned) on 11 hits

            Beuerlein pitched 5 innings - threw 108 pitches, struck out 4, walked 3, and gave up 1 unearned run on 7 hits.

            Faapito pitched .1 innings - threw 23 pitches (1 wild), no strikeouts or walks, and gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits.

            Hawk pitched .2 innings - threw 9 pitches (1 wild), no strikeouts or walks, and gave up 0 runs on 1 hit.

***************************************************************************************************************************

MSU's Beuerlein is just a freshman but she held AU batters in check for 5 innings.  AU beat up on Faapito but Hawk shut them back down.  Don't know how deep MSU's bullpen is but, as noted above, they swept #22 Kentucky last weekend so not expecting either of remaining games to be easy.

Commentator Amy Reif mentioned a couple of times that Maddie seemed frustrated.  Seemed like she felt a lot of pressure because the offense wasn't producing and Auburn was behind until the 5th inning.  Good to see the offense finally back her up.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[EagleEye67 1,940]

Maddie was certainly frustrated with the strike zone...

[Golden Eagle 370]

Dang it.  Turned on SEC network about 10 minutes ago and Ole Miss was ahead 1-0 over Alabama and Alabama had 2 outs.  They hit a 3 RBI HR and took the lead 3-1.  Alabama then brought in Fouts to pitch the bottom of the 7th (don't know if she pitched the whole game) and Ole Miss couldn't mount a comeback.  Puts the pressure on Auburn to win today.

[Golden Eagle 370]

Game 2:

After 1, Auburn 0 - MSU 0

MSU making good contact but side retired on 3 fly outs.   Bri Ellis walked but Auburn couldn't get her home.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 2, Auburn 2 - MSU 1

MSU:

Auburn:  Bryant walked, Tresvik struck out, Godwin singled, Packer flied out, Roach doubled to center field scoring Bryant & Godwin!, Roach stole 3rd on a passed ball, Peralta walked and then took off for 2nd trying to give Roach a chance to score.  Roach crossed home plate but Peralta was thrown out trying to get back to 1st.  Another baserunning fiasco IMHO.  And, Peralta seems to have hurt her hand - trainers wrapped it and she is still in the game.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 3,  Auburn 2 - MSU 1

MSU:  Fly out to center.  Now Peralta is coming out of the game because she can't throw with her taped hand.  Roach moves from 2nd to SS and McCondichie comes in to play 2nd.  Another flyout.  Single to right field.  Hit to second and McCondichie fields the ball and gets the out.

AU:  MSU brings in a new pitcher (Marron).  Garcia flied out.  Bri Ellis grounds out to 3rd.  McCrary grounds out to 3rd.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 4, Auburn 3 - MSU 3

MSU:  Lowe hit the batter.  2-run HR (Kennedy - same batter who hit the 2-run HR yesterday).  Strike out.  Fly out to right field.  Fly out to left field.

AU:  Bryant singled to SS (review over whether 1st baseman came off the bag trying to catch the throw from SS - ruled that she did so Bryant safe.  Error on MSU.  Tresvik grounded to left field (ball went under 3rd baseman's glove - another error on MSU).  Godwin sacrifice bunted down first base line and moved runners to 2nd and 3rd.  Blaine walked.  Packer re-enters to run for Blaine.  Roach sac fly to CF.  Bryant tagged and scored.  Tresvik to 3rd.  McCondichie grounded out to 2nd.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 5, Auburn 4 - MSU 3

MSU:  Fly out to CF.  Strike out.  Double to CF.  Pop up to 1st.

AU:  Garcia single to LF.   Abbey Smith in to run for Garcia.  Ellis hit a hard ground ball to 3rd, ball bounced off of 3rd baseman's glove and SS caught it.  Ellis called out at 1st but she was clearly safe.  Then she was called safe, then back to out.  Auburn out of challenges so Ellis is out. Horrible call.  McCrary strikes out looking.  Bryant at the plate.  Smith steals 3rd.  Bryant walks.  Tresvik at the plate.  Bryant starts to steal 2nd, catcher throws and Smith steals home.  Bryant went back to 1st.  Bryant later steals 2nd.  Tresvik lined out to 2nd.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 6, Auburn 4 - MSU 4

MSU:  Base hit.  Kennedy (HR hitter) walked.  Bunt to move runners to 2nd and 3rd - and bunter is safe at first.  Bases loaded with no outs.  Widra coming in to replace Lowe.  Line drive to3rd off of Bryant's glove and into LF.  Run scores and bases still loaded.  Strike out.  Fly out.  Ground out to 3rd.  GREAT job by Annabelle Widra.

AU:  Godwin strikes out swinging on what would have been balls (drop balls nearly in the dirt).  Packer grounds out to SS.  Roach grounds out to 3rd.  3 weak at bats this inning.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 7, Auburn 4 - MSU 4

MSU:  Pop up to SS.  Another pop up to SS.  Pop up to shallow CF.

AU:  Sydney Cox pinch hit and lined out to 1st.  Garcia struck out at balls in the dirt...arrgghh.  Ellis struck out. 

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 8, Auburn 4 - MSU 4

MSU:  Fly out to LF - great running catch by Garcia.  Fly out to CF.  Pop up to catcher.

AU:  McCrary struck out looking.  Bryant with a base hit to RF (on a full count).  Tresvik with a weak ground ball to SS and MSU turns a double play.

[Golden Eagle 370]

Final:  After 9,  Auburn 4 - MSU 5

MSU:  Ground ball single to RF on 1st pitch.  Bunt bounces off of Bryant's glove, runner safe.  Sac bunt moves runners to 2nd and 3rd, batter out at 1st.  Ground ball single gets past SS into outfield and a run scores, runners advance to 2nd and 3rd.  Millie Roberts entered the game to replace Bryant at 3rd - apparently she was injured and left the field.  Strike out.  Fly out to CF.

AU:  Lisenby pinch hits,hit by pitch, MSU coach challenges it, call overturned so Lisenby returns to batter's box, Lisenby walks.  Cooper comes in to run for Lisenby.  Packer strikes out.  Roach strikes out.  Cooper steals 2nd.  Sydney Cox with a swinging bunt to 3rd.  Cooper advances to 3rd.  Cox safe at first.  Garcia flies out to RF.

 

[ArgoEagle 1,791]

We have 1 dominant pitcher and a below average hitting team..

The only way we could make any noise in the post season is if Mattie could pitch every game.. Can't see that happening.

[AUBwins 10,075]

2 hours ago, ArgoEagle said:

We have 1 dominant pitcher and a below average hitting team..

The only way we could make any noise in the post season is if Mattie could pitch every game.. Can't see that happening.

Well it worked for Paige Parker.  They rode her every game starting in Regionals, all the way until we started hitting her in game 1. They treated her in game 2 of finals, then finished us off in game 3.

[Golden Eagle 370]

Game 2 Summary:  Auburn 4 - Mississippi State 5

AU scored 4 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits with 1 error and 6 left on base.

MSU scored 5 runs (all 5 earned) on 10 hits with 4 errors and 8 left on base.

AU:    Pitched 9 innings - threw 130 pitches, struck out 6, walked 1, hit 1 batter, and gave up 5 earned runs on 10 hits.

              Lowe pitched 5 innings - threw 75 pitches, struck out 4, walked 1, hit 1 batter, and gave up 4 earned runs on 7 hits.

              Widra pitched 4 innings - threw 55 pitches, struck out 2, walked 0, and gave up 1 earned run on 3 hits.

MSU: Pitched 9 innings - threw 153 pitches (1 wild), struck out 9, walked 6, and gave up 4 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits

                Wesley pitched 2 innings - threw 51 pitches, struck out 2, walked 3, and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits.

                 Marron pitched 7 innings - threw 102 pitches (1 wild), struck out 7, walked 3, and gave up 2 unearned runs on 3 hits.

 

Not a good day for Auburn.  Only 5 hits and 1 earned run; the other 3 runs came as a result of errors by the MSU defense.  Like yesterday, Auburn was held in check by a freshman pitcher (today it was Marron, yesterday it was Beuerlein).  Even with 4 errors, MSU played like the better team - better pitching, better hitting (AU doesn't seem to make solid contact very often - a lot of weakly hit balls today), better coaching, etc.  Not to mention, both Denver Bryant and Nelia Peralta left the game with hand injuries incurred while trying to get back on base following base running errors.

Today's loss was significant - Alabama won so they're now tied with us for 4th place in the SEC standings; if we lose and they win tomorrow they will pass us and get a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament (and our resume will take a hit).  Momentum seems to favor MSU.   Also, D1 Softball was not projecting Auburn to host a regional prior to this series (latest projection has us going to Seattle with Washington hosting).  Had we swept MSU, we might have had a shot at it...probably don't now unless we do something insane like win the SEC tournament (LOL).

Inspirational to see unranked AU baseball beat #1 LSU tonight 8-6.   And last weekend they took 2 of 3 from #3 South Carolina.  Coaching (and talent) matter.

Edited May 7, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

Game 3:

After 1 inning:  Auburn 0 - MSU 0

MSU:  ground ball single to RF, strikeout, walk, strikeout, strikeout

Auburn:  Peralta struck out looking, Lisenby struck out looking, Ellis struck out swinging

Not a good start for Auburn - MSU freshman pitcher Beuerlein struck out the side in order.