COCHRAN, Ga. – The No. 6 Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks softball team (32-6) completed its 2026 non-conference schedule with an undefeated record after taking down the Middle Georgia State Knights (13-20) 5-1 in game one and 4-0 in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader on the road.
 
COACH WILKES LANEY'S COMMENTS
"Our pitchers did a great job today, only giving up one run in 14 innings. Super stoked for Chloe Baynes breaking the career stolen base record. Two wins is also a great way to end our non-conference schedule. Going undefeated in non-conference is a great accomplishment."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One, AUM 5, MGS 1
Chloe Baynes led things off with a base hit to center field before breaking the program record of 116 career stolen bases with a swipe of second and third bases. Baynes went on to score on a Knights fielding error, putting AUM on the board early.
 
Reese Cauley retired Middle Georgia's first three batters in the opening frame to keep the opponents off the board.
 
With two outs in the top of the second inning, Kennedy Sevcik singled to right field to get on base and Karris Rhine launched an RBI triple down the right field line to plate Sevcik. As the next batter, Whitney Wells drilled an RBI double to left center field to score Rhine and extend the orange and black's lead to 3-0.
 
Cauley kept the Knight's scoreless through four full innings behind seven strikeouts, and one-two-three innings in all but the second frame where she walked one opposing batter.
 
The home team scored its first run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mel Bullock hit a solo home run to left center field.
 
The Warhawks used its final offensive inning to score a pair of insurance runs on three hits and an opponent error. Rhine singled to left field before advancing all the way to third base on a Middle Georgia miscue. This set the stage for Wells' base hit up the middle to bring Rhine home. Not long after, Baynes drew a walk and stole second base before Gracie Suggs' RBI knock completed Baynes' trip around the diamond and brought AUM's cushion to 5-1.
 
Cauley closed out the game with another one-two-three inning to give the Warhawks a game one victory with a final score of 5-1.
 
Game One Notables

• Chloe Baynes stole two bases in the first inning, surpassing 2021 graduate Parker Pinholster to become the program's all-time career stolen base leader with 117 career swipes. Baynes finished the game with four stolen bases, tying the program record for most stolen bases in a single game.
• Baynes also led AUM's offense in game one, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs, and drawing a walk.
• Reese Cauley improved to 20-1 after tossing her 17th complete game of the season. Over 7.0 innings, Cauley struck out 10, allowed just one walk, and held opponents to a single run on one hit.
• Karris Rhine collected two hits over three at-bats, scored two runs, and drove in a run with her second-inning triple, her second of the season.
• Whitney Wells totaled two hits on three attempts, drove in two runs, and hit her first double of the year in the second inning.
• The Warhawks finished with 10 hits while limiting Middle Georgia State to just one.

 
 
 

Game Two: AUM 4, MGS 0
Behind strong command from Sydni Free in the circle and two impressive double plays from the AUM defense, the Warhawks held the Knights scoreless through the first four inning, resulting in a 0-0 tie heading into the fifth frame.
 
The orange and black broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning, which began with a Meredith Kellum base hit up the middle. Gracie Mason came in to pinch run for Kellum, then wasted no time swiping second base. A fielding error on Middle Georgia State allowed Wells to reach first base and Mason to stand at third. Not long after, Baynes reached on a fielder's choice while bringing in Mason for the first run of the game.
 
The inning continued with Ansley Watson's sacrifice bunt which advanced both runners, plating Wells. Rebecca Komers rounded out AUM's scoring in the inning with an RBI single to bring Baynes home and put the Warhawks up 3-0.
 
In the top of the seventh frame Komers brought Baynes in to score, who drew a walk earlier in the inning, putting the orange and black ahead 4-0 heading to the bottom of the final inning.
 
With Alivia Messick taking over in the circle for the final 2.0 innings, she held the Knights scoreless and recorded a strikeout in the seventh to secure the 4-0 victory for AUM.
 
Game Two Notables

• Sydni Free improves to 4-0 after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings while recording two strikeouts and giving up just three hits.
• Alivia Messick closed the game with 2.0 innings of runless work while striking out one batter and giving up just one hit.
• Meredith Kellum led the Warhawks with two hits on two at-bats while adding a sacrifice bunt.
• Chloe Baynes totaled one hit, two runs, drew a walk, brought in an RBI, and stole two bases.
• Rebecca Komers notched a hit, two RBI, and a stolen base.
• Ansley Watson tallied a hit and an RBI.
• The Warhawks stole seven bases as a team while AUM's defense recorded two double plays.
• AUM wrapped up the non-conference portion of its 2026 schedule with today's games, finishing a perfect 17-0 against non-GSC opponents. The undefeated record marks the first time in Division II program history that AUM has achieved the feat.

 
 
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks return to Montgomery on Friday, April 10 for a GSC series against the Union Bulldogs. Friday's doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m.
 

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