TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 7 ranked AUM softball team opened play in the 2025 NCAA Division II South Super Regional with an emphatic 5-0 victory over No. 5 Tampa at Naimoli Family Stadium on Thursday.
 
The third-seeded Warhawks scored all five runs in the third inning, collecting six hits, including four-consecutive singles to put the pressure on the top-seeded Spartans. Chloe Baynes drove in the first run on a soft liner over the shortstop's head that allowed Faith Wheat to score when the throw home from left fielder Lauren Fantone was wild. Two batters later, Lexi Love singled back up the middle to drive in Baynes and Jasmine Sneed. Rebecca Komers laid down a sac bunt that drove in Haley Ann Frank before Lexie Bullock crushed a double to left center that Love scored on for the final run.
 
After the 5-run third, Tampa only had one hit and two walks the rest of the game.
 
AUM improved to 41-11 on the season and is now one win away from advancing to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Tampa was shutout for the fifth time this season and fell to 43-10.
 
Reese Cauley (23-4) earned the win in the circle as she struck out five and allowed five hits. It was her 15th complete-game and sixth solo shutout of the season.
 
AUM continued to get strong production throughout the lineup during the NCAA Tournament as seven different players had base hits. Bullock and Sneed led the way with two each, while Baynes, Frank, Love, Wheat and Meredith Kellum all put balls in play to reach safely.
 
The win was also big for head coach Scottie Wilkes Laney as it was number 125 at AUM. She is now 125-44 in her third season in charge of the Orange and Black.
 
AUM is now 20-11 all-time in NCAA postseason play and improved to 5-1 in its third super regional.
 
The teams will play the second game of the best-of-three series on Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. If a third game is needed, it will be played 30 minutes after the end of the second contest.