Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, April 22
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
30-17
2
vs
0
Auburn
24-22
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Troy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Troy Shuts Out Auburn in Huge Home Win
4/22/2026 9:16:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – After taking an early lead, Troy softball toppled Auburn 2-0 in front of a record crowd at the Troy Softball Complex. Ella Cunningham (10-4) powered the Trojans (30-17, 8-10 SBC) past Auburn (24-22, 3-15 SEC) with six innings of scoreless ball out of the bullpen, striking out five.
The announced attendance of 1,623 was the seventh-most in school history – the highest-attended win in Troy softball history. Troy's first win over Auburn since 2012 made the team 9-0 in midweek games this season, the first time in school history the Trojans ended the year unbeaten in midweek contests.
Two early runs in the first two innings were all the Trojans needed, as the team reached the 30-win mark for the fourth time in four seasons under head coach Eric Newell. Makaley Boswell singled and scored on a wild pitch in the first, and Dailynn Motes hit a sacrifice fly in the second to pair with her single.
Cunningham and starter Esmee Ames came through in the clutch, stranding 12 Auburn runners on base. The duo held the Tigers to just three hits in Troy's 10th shutout of the season and first shutout of a Power Four team since 2022.
Three walks in the first created traffic on the basepaths, but Ames recorded a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom half, Boswell extended her hit streak to 13 games with an infield single in the first, and the Trojans put one more on an Auburn error. The Trojans struck first on a wild pitch to score Boswell and make it 1-0.
Cunningham entered the circle in the second, striking out one and stranding two more Tiger baserunners. A single from McKinnon Howard, another Auburn error and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Motes doubled Troy's lead.
A Troy error extended the top of the third, but Cunningham's second strikeout in as many innings ended it. While Kiley Huffman blooped a double into left field, the Trojans couldn't extend the lead.
In the fourth, Cunningham struck out two more batters to keep Auburn scoreless and hitless. Auburn's third error of the game and a single from Motes put runners on the corners with two outs, but the Tigers got the out to end the inning.
The Tigers got their first hit of the night in the fifth with a double. Auburn flew into a double play as the Trojans went 8-6-4 to get both outs. The Tigers loaded the bases in the inning, but Cunningham ended the inning with a huge strikeout.
Auburn moved a runner to third base with two outs following a leadoff single in the sixth, but Cunningham ended the frame with a groundout. Coming out for the seventh inning, she sat down the Tigers one-two-three to seal the win for the Trojans.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"Today was a great day! I'm just so happy for the girls, we're starting to play some good softball and to beat a Power Four SEC school in Auburn feels really good and that's a big-time win for us. Ella Cunningham threw her absolute tail off today and we did what we needed to do offensively. Little things in that game like the sac fly from Dailynn Motes and Kalee Rochinski with the sac bunt right before that helped us win, we manufactured a couple runs and those help up. We've had a lot of adversity this year in a lot of ways, and to see everything pay off for them tonight was fun for me."
Notables
The announced attendance of 1,623 was the seventh-most in school history – the highest-attended win in Troy softball history. Troy's first win over Auburn since 2012 made the team 9-0 in midweek games this season, the first time in school history the Trojans ended the year unbeaten in midweek contests.
Two early runs in the first two innings were all the Trojans needed, as the team reached the 30-win mark for the fourth time in four seasons under head coach Eric Newell. Makaley Boswell singled and scored on a wild pitch in the first, and Dailynn Motes hit a sacrifice fly in the second to pair with her single.
Cunningham and starter Esmee Ames came through in the clutch, stranding 12 Auburn runners on base. The duo held the Tigers to just three hits in Troy's 10th shutout of the season and first shutout of a Power Four team since 2022.
Three walks in the first created traffic on the basepaths, but Ames recorded a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom half, Boswell extended her hit streak to 13 games with an infield single in the first, and the Trojans put one more on an Auburn error. The Trojans struck first on a wild pitch to score Boswell and make it 1-0.
Cunningham entered the circle in the second, striking out one and stranding two more Tiger baserunners. A single from McKinnon Howard, another Auburn error and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Motes doubled Troy's lead.
A Troy error extended the top of the third, but Cunningham's second strikeout in as many innings ended it. While Kiley Huffman blooped a double into left field, the Trojans couldn't extend the lead.
In the fourth, Cunningham struck out two more batters to keep Auburn scoreless and hitless. Auburn's third error of the game and a single from Motes put runners on the corners with two outs, but the Tigers got the out to end the inning.
The Tigers got their first hit of the night in the fifth with a double. Auburn flew into a double play as the Trojans went 8-6-4 to get both outs. The Tigers loaded the bases in the inning, but Cunningham ended the inning with a huge strikeout.
Auburn moved a runner to third base with two outs following a leadoff single in the sixth, but Cunningham ended the frame with a groundout. Coming out for the seventh inning, she sat down the Tigers one-two-three to seal the win for the Trojans.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"Today was a great day! I'm just so happy for the girls, we're starting to play some good softball and to beat a Power Four SEC school in Auburn feels really good and that's a big-time win for us. Ella Cunningham threw her absolute tail off today and we did what we needed to do offensively. Little things in that game like the sac fly from Dailynn Motes and Kalee Rochinski with the sac bunt right before that helped us win, we manufactured a couple runs and those help up. We've had a lot of adversity this year in a lot of ways, and to see everything pay off for them tonight was fun for me."
Notables
- The announced attendance for Wednesday's matchup was 1,623, the seventh-most in program history and the highest-attended win in program history
- The Trojans won their first game against Auburn since March 21, 2012
- Troy is 8-27-1 all-time against Auburn, and shut out the Tigers for the first time ever
- Auburn was ranked No. 28 in the NCAA RPI heading into the matchup, Troy's largest RPI upset of the season
- The Trojans shut out a Power Four opponent for the first time since taking down Ohio State 4-0 on Feb. 26, 2022
- Troy's record in midweek games this season was 9-0, the most midweek wins by the program in a season since 2015
- The Trojans finished their midweek games for the season undefeated for the first time in program history
- The Trojans reached the 30-win mark for the fourth straight season under head coach Eric Newell and the 28th time in program history
- Makaley Boswell extended her hit streak to 13 games
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cunningham, Ella (10-4)
L: Harrison, Ella (11-11)
Batting:
2B: Hastings, Alyssa 1
SH: Wilson, Daigle 1 ; Ratliff, Ava 1
Base Running:
SB: Wilson, Daigle 1 ; Walker, McKaela 1
HBP: Rodriguez, Destiny 1
Batting:
2B: Huffman, Kiley 1
RBI: Motes, Dailynn 1
SH: Rochinski, Kalee 1
SF: Motes, Dailynn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, McKinnon 1 ; Boswell, Makaley 1
CS: Huffman, Kiley 1
HBP: Cunningham, Ella 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballPlayer Postgame Press Conference (Ella Cunningham, Makaley Boswell) - Auburn
Wednesday, April 22
Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference (Auburn)
Wednesday, April 22
Troy vs. Auburn (Full Highlights)
Wednesday, April 22
Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference (Florida A&M)
Tuesday, April 21