Auburn
Florida
AUBURN, Ala. (03/22/2026) — The Auburn Tigers leveraged a fast start and a powerful fifth-inning response to secure an 8-3 victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers on Sunday at Moore Field.
Auburn's offense came alive early, putting the pressure on Florida A&M from the first frame and never trailing in the contest. The win showcased a balanced offensive attack, with five different Tigers driving in runs, and a commanding relief performance from the pitching staff.
How It Happened
The Tigers wasted no time establishing control, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning without a single hit. A patient approach at the plate led to RBI walks for M. Womack and Haven Roebuck. Delaney Aumua followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice, pushing the score to 3-0 before the Rattlers could record three outs.
Auburn extended its lead in the second inning. An Alyssa Hastings sacrifice fly brought home one run, and Mckaela Walker followed with an RBI double to deep center field, giving the Tigers a comfortable 5-0 advantage.
Florida A&M mounted a rally in the top of the fourth inning, capitalizing on opportunities to get on the scoreboard. With runners in scoring position, Amari Brown and Keeleigh Spooner each produced an RBI groundout, scoring two unearned runs to cut the deficit to 5-2 and inject new life into the game for the Rattlers.
The Tigers promptly answered in the bottom of the fifth, delivering the decisive blow. After Roebuck reached base, Delaney Aumua launched a two-run home run to right field, immediately seizing back the momentum. Later in the inning, Alyssa Hastings collected her second RBI of the day with another sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 8-2.
Florida A&M's Keeleigh Spooner capped the day's scoring in the seventh inning with a solo home run to left field, but the late-game power was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Turning Point
After Florida A&M cut the lead to three runs in the fourth inning, Auburn’s response in the bottom of the fifth was the critical moment of the game. Delaney Aumua’s two-run homer deflated the Rattlers' comeback hopes and re-established a commanding six-run lead for the Tigers, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Star of the Game
Delaney Aumua, Auburn: The Auburn hitter was responsible for the game's biggest offensive moment. Her two-run home run in the fifth inning was the turning point, and she finished the day with a game-high 3 RBI.
Honorable mention goes to Auburn pitcher Abby Herndon, who was nearly untouchable in relief. Herndon threw three perfect innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out three batters to shut down the middle innings.
For the Rattlers, Keeleigh Spooner provided the primary offensive spark, going 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, and 2 RBI.
What It Means
For the Auburn Tigers, the victory is a solid non-conference win that demonstrates offensive depth and the ability to respond under pressure. The pitching staff, led by Herndon’s flawless relief appearance, showed it can effectively close out games.
For the Florida A&M Rattlers, the loss came against a tough SEC opponent. However, the team showed resilience by manufacturing runs in the fourth and Spooner's late-game power provides a positive offensive takeaway as they move forward in their season.