MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its Week Ten edition of the NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll on Tuesday, with the Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks softball team holding strong in sixth. AUM continues to rank among the nation's elite programs, marking its 10th consecutive week inside the top 10.

Winning Week for the Warhawks
The orange and black continued its strong stretch of play last week, as they posted a 4-1 mark across a midweek doubleheader and a series in Gulf South Conference action. AUM opened the week with a two-game sweep of Middle Georgia State, earning 5-1 and 4-0 victories. In game one, Karris Rhine delivered a triple, while Chloe Baynes went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and broke the program's career stolen base record with four against the Knights. Reese Cauley was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one run. In game two, Sydni Free and Alivia Messick held their ground in the circle to secure the shutout victory.
 
The Warhawks then returned home for a three-game series against Union, taking game one 2–0 behind another complete-game shutout from Cauley, who struck out nine and allowed just four hits. Olivia Watkins led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double. Union answered with a 6–3 win in game two, despite another strong showing at the plate from Baynes and Watkins, both finishing 3-for-3, while Jasmine Sneed added a home run. AUM bounced back in the finale with a 3–0 shutout victory, as Cauley again went the distance with six strikeouts, no walks, and just three hits allowed. Rebecca Komers and Watkins each went 2-for-3 with a double to help seal the series win.
 
Warhawks Continue to Deal in the Circle
AUM's pitching staff delivered another dominant week in the circle, helping power a 4–1 record across 35.0 total innings of work. The Warhawks posted a 0.80 ERA while recording three shutouts, allowing just four earned runs on 18 hits. Opposing hitters were held to a .146 batting average, as AUM's staff combined for 33 strikeouts against only 10 walks, consistently controlling the pace of play throughout the week.

Cauley once again anchored the rotation, logging 21.0 innings across three complete-game performances while leading AUM to key wins over Middle Georgia State and Union. She finished the week with 25 strikeouts, just two walks, and only one earned run allowed on eight hits. One of her most dominant outings came in game one against Union, where she threw a 7.0-inning shutout, striking out nine while allowing just four hits. Free also turned in a strong week in the circle, making two appearances and totaling 9.0 innings with a 0.78 ERA. She allowed just one earned run on six hits, struck out three batters, and held opponents to a .176 average against.

Alivia Messick provided valuable relief support, tossing 2.0 innings while allowing just one hit and no runs. She finished the week with a .143 batting average against, helping preserve momentum in key moments and contribute to the staff's overall success.
 
Balanced Attack Fuels AUM Offense
The Warhawks offense continued to produce throughout the week, posting a .268 team batting average with 34 hits and 17 runs across five games. AUM's lineup was led by a pair of standout performances at the top of the order, as Watkins and Baynes both turned in dominant weeks at the plate to fuel the attack.

Watkins hit .643 with nine hits, two runs, and 11 total bases, finishing with a .667 on-base percentage and a .786 slugging percentage while adding two doubles. Baynes followed closely, batting .571 with eight hits, six runs, and two RBI, totaling 10 bases with a .714 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage. She also drew four walks, added a triple, went a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts, and broke the program's career stolen base record. Komers provided key run production with four RBI on the week, while Sneed added a home run and Rhine contributed a triple as AUM continued to generate offense from multiple spots in the lineup.


 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks return to the AUM Softball Complex on Friday, April 17 for a doubleheader against Delta State. First pitch from Montgomery is set for 1 p.m.

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