AUBURN, ALABAMA (EETV)- Auburn bats come alive late as Tigers stomp ULM 7-3 on Sunday in the second game of a double-header at Jane B. Moore Field. The win moves the Tigers to 15-1 on the season and 10-0 inside Jane B. Moore Field.
"They are a good team," Auburn head coach Mickey Dean said. "There pitching staff is really good. I've looked at the numbers and they change it up."
Auburn’s bats were held in check for most of the game. The Tigers exploded for 3-runs in the fourth and six innings to give the main separation between Auburn and ULM.
Auburn was leading the bottom of the sixth 4-3 before Lindsey Garcia hit a 3-run home run to straight away center field and gave Auburn the true separation it needed. Garcia went 1-for-4 on the day but drove in three runs in the win.
"Heck, I was getting read to pinch hit for Lindsey in her last at bat," Dean said with a laugh. "They are doing a hell of a job."
Makayla Packer had another good game in the win as she 2-for-4 from the plate picking up a single, a double and scoring a run. Packer this season is hitting .478 through 16 games.
"Our kids have worked hard in the weight room," Dean said. "We aren't perfect."
Sophomore Maddie Penta got the start on the mound for Auburn but was only able to go four innings in the winning effort. Penta gave up three runs on three hits and struck out four. Penta’s ERA moves to 1.33 on the season after the three earned runs given up on Sunday. The win moves Penta’s record to 7-0 on the season.
"We knew that wasn't Maddie Penta," Dean said. "She came out the next inning and went 3-up 3-down."
Fellow sophomore Shelby Lowe came in to replace Penta in the fifth inning. Like in the first game of the double-header today, Lowe made quick work of the opposing batters. In her three innings pitched Lowe gave no runs on no hits and struck out two. This was Lowe’s third save of the season.
"It keeps the team in a rhythm when you're pitchers are working ahead," Dean said. "They were warriors this weekend. Both [Penta and Lowe]."
Auburn with this win remains undefeated at home this season. A perfect 10-0 at Jane B. Moore Field. No. 21 Auburn Softball will travel to Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, March 2 to take on Georgia State. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST and where the game will be aired is still to be determined.
"We'd like to go another 10-0," Dean said with a chuckle. "We want to play the game and we can't worry about who the opponent is. If we play the game right, it doesn't matter who the opponent is."
