2023 Softball vs Mississippi State

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 2 innings:  Auburn 0 - MSU 0

MSU:  ground out to SS, ground out to P, fly out to LF

Auburn:  McCrary ground out to 2nd, Bryant ground ball single up the middle, Garcia walked, Tresvik popped up to shallow RF, Packer bunted and was thrown out at first - didn't like that choice with 2 outs and 2 on base.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 3 innings:  Auburn 1 - MSU 0

MSU:  strikeout, strikeout, ground out to SS

Auburn:  Roach struck out (she stopped her swing but umps said she went around...announcers didn't think she did),  Peralta HR (with help from the CFer who got a glove on it but lost it),  Lisenby grounded out,  Ellis walked, Elkins in to run for Ellis, Elkins steals 2nd on a wild pitch, McCrary pops up to shallow RF.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 4 innings, Auburn 3 - MSU 0

MSU:  walk, sac bunt moved runner to 2nd, popup to shallow RF, walk, fly out to shallow RF (great catch by Tresvik).

Auburn:  Bryant walked, McCondichie in to run for Bryant, Garcia 2-run HR on Senior Day!!!, Tresvik accidentally hit the ball on a checked swing...ground out to P, Packer struck out swinging on a ball out of the zone, Roach walked, MSU makes a pitching change - Hawk in for Beuerlein, Peralta at bat but Roach thrown out trying to steal second.

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 5 innings, Auburn 3 - MSU 0

MSU:  ground out to P, strikeout, ground out to SS - quick work by Maddie this inning.

Auburn:  Peralta ground out to 2nd,  Godwin in to pinch hit and grounds out to 2nd, Ellis hit by pitch, McCrary ground out to P

Edited May 8, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

After 6 innings, Auburn 3 - MSU 0

MSU:  ground out to SS, line out to SS, fly out to CF

Auburn:  Bryant base hit to SS (great to see her hustle to first and beat it out), Garcia ground ball to SS who tossed it to 2nd and got Bryant out, Abbey Smith in to run for Garcia, Tresvik walked, Engelkes in to pinch hit struck out, Blaine in to pinch hit struck out.

Edited May 8, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

Final, after 6.5, innings, Auburn 3 - MSU  0

MSU:  strikeout, strikeout looking, ground out to 2nd.

[Golden Eagle 370]

Game 3 Summary:  Auburn 3 - Mississippi State 0

AU scored 3 runs (all 3 earned) on 4 hits with 0 errors and 6 left on base.

MSU scored 0 runs on 1 hit with 0 errors and 4 left on base.

 

AU:    Penta pitched 7 innings - threw 101 pitches (1 wild), struck out 8, walked 3, no hit batters, and gave up 0 runs on 1 hit.           

MSU: Pitched 6 innings - threw 112 pitches, struck out 7, walked 5, and gave up 3 runs (all earned) on 4 hits

                Beuerlein pitched 3.2 innings - threw 74 pitches, struck out 5, walked 4, and gave up 3 runs (all earned) on 3 hits.

                 Hawk pitched 2.1 innings - threw 38 pitches, struck out 2, walked 1, and gave up 0 runs on 1 hit.

 

AUsome day at Jane B Moore field.  Before the game, seniors were honored, Auburn University President Chris Roberts presented diplomas to the graduates (Godwin, Engelkes, Garcia, and McCondichie) and Maddie Penta sang the National Anthem.  Wish I could have been there - praise from today's tv commentators on the ceremonies (especially Roberts showing up - Auburn believed to be the first team to do that).

Both Peralta and Bryant played today after leaving yesterday's game with hand injuries.  Peralta's hand was taped but it didn't seem to affect her play.  Happy for Garcia hitting a 2-run HR in her last game at Jane B Moore.

With the win, Auburn secures a 4th-place finish in the SEC standings and a bye in the first round of the SEC tournament.  Looks like they will most likely face Alabama in the second round.  Auburn not expected to host a regional with latest projection showing them going to Seattle.

Auburn finishes the regular season 39-16, 15-9.   Penta's regular season record 25-5; other Auburn pitchers combined for a 14-11 record.  Penta carried this team all year; will the offense and the rest of the pitching staff step up in the post season???

Edited May 7, 2023 by Golden Eagle

[Golden Eagle 370]

Wow.  I DID NOT see this coming.  Ole Miss beat Alabama today so Auburn didn't need the tiebreaker to stay ahead of them in the SEC standings.  Alabama was ahead 4-1 heading in to the bottom of the 7th.  Alabama pitcher (Torrence) gave up back-to-back HRs cutting their lead to 4-3 so Fouts was brought in to replace her and pitch for the save.  Fouts got a couple of outs but also gave up a couple of hits.  Ole Miss then got a single up the middle that scored 1 run (tying the game) followed by a double that scored 2 runs and won the game for Ole Miss.  Fouts takes the loss and Alabama finishes a game behind Auburn.

AND, Mizzou just beat Arkansas 7-6 which bumps Auburn up to 3rd place.

AND LSU just beat Georgia which doesn't change the order.

Seeding for SEC tournament will reflect the new standings.

(Auburn was lucky not to have to play Tennessee or Arkansas this year.)

Final standings:

1.  Tennessee 19-5

2.  Georgia 16-7

3.  Auburn 15-9

4.  Arkansas 14-9

5.  Alabama 14-10

6.  LSU 13-11

7.  Texas A&M 12-12

8.  Florida 11-13

9.  Kentucky 10-14

10.  South Carolina 9-15

11.  Ole Miss 8-16

12.  Mississippi State 7-16

12.  Missouri 6-17

[AUBwins 10,075]

14 minutes ago, Golden Eagle said:

(Auburn was lucky not to have to play Tennessee or Arkansas this year.)

And won't until SEC Final if those seeds stand.  Crazy. 

[AUBwins 10,075]

There are a lot of teams that are ranked ahead of Auburn to start year, that are below them now. 

[Golden Eagle 370]

6 minutes ago, AUBwins said:

There are a lot of teams that are ranked ahead of Auburn to start year, that are below them now. 

Unfortunately, Auburn's RPI isn't as strong as many of the SEC teams below them in the SEC standings.  That's why Auburn has a lower ranking in the polls than Bama, LSU, FLorida, etc. , and isn't projected to host a regional.  Not playing Tennessee and Arkansas contributes to that.  A win or two in the tournament could change that.  We'll see.

[Golden Eagle 370]

Here's the full 2023 schedule...no Arkansas...

https://auburntigers.com/sports/softball/schedule/2023

 

[tigers23 656]

1 hour ago, Golden Eagle said:

Here's the full 2023 schedule...no Arkansas...

https://auburntigers.com/sports/softball/schedule/2023

 

Youre correct. Was thinking of baseball....my bad

[slot canyon 1,341]

I thought the catch by Tresvik in the top of the 4th was big.  There were runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.  Appeared she had the option to take the ball on the bounce which would have advanced the runners or attempt to make a good running catch with risk of missing and ball going into outfield.  Also, thought some good "digs" by Ellis at 1st.