Auburn University at Montgomery Athletics

OXFORD, Ala. – The No. 3 seed Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks softball team (42-9, GSC: 24-9) opened the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championship with a 9-5 victory over No. 6 seed Alabama Huntsville (34-21, GSC: 18-15) on Wednesday at Choccolocco Park.

COACH WILKES LANEY'S COMMENTS
"Starting off the tournament with a win is a great start. Reall proud of that. Offensively, we really stepped up - 12 hits, six walks, nine runs - we limited our strikeouts and scored in multiple innings. Overall great day one."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After being named the GSC Pitcher of the Year just 30 minutes prior, Reese Cauley got the start in the circle and set the tone early, retiring the Chargers in order through the first two innings.
 
AUM struck first in a big way, plating five runs on four hits and capitalizing on two UAH errors in the bottom of the second. Olivia Watkins led off by reaching on a hit-by-pitch before Cauley followed with a single to right center. An error in the outfield allowed Watkins to score and put the Warhawks on the board.
 
Kennedy Sevcik added a sacrifice fly to bring in Cauley, while Ansley Watson drew a walk to keep the inning alive. Jasmine Sneed delivered with an RBI double to right center, scoring Watson, and Chloe Baynes followed with a well-placed bunt single. Gabbi Barnowsky capped the inning with an RBI single to give AUM a 5-0 lead.
 
UAH responded in the top of the third with back-to-back doubles from Brittany Slaten and Alexa Douthitt, trimming the deficit to 5-3.
 
The Warhawks answered right back in the bottom half. Cauley singled and swiped second before coming around to score on Sevcik's second sacrifice fly of the game, extending the lead to 6-3.
 
After Cauley retired the side in the fourth, AUM added more insurance. Barnowsky singled and advanced to third before Watkins drove her in with an RBI triple to left center. Cauley followed with her third hit of the day, an RBI single, pushing the lead to 8-3.
 
UAH made things interesting in the fifth with a two-run inside-the-park home run from Jill Cockrell to cut the margin to 8-5.
 
AUM answered once more in the bottom of the inning as Sneed worked a walk and stole second before Baynes delivered an RBI single up the middle to score her and extend the lead to 9-5.
 
Cauley shut the door from there, retiring the Chargers over the final two innings to secure the complete-game victory.
 
NOTABLES

• Reese Cauley improved to 27-2, tossing her 23rd complete game of the season. The sophomore allowed five runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two over 7.0 innings.
• Cauley also led the offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Olivia Watkins reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with three runs scored, a triple, a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI.
• Chloe Baynes recorded two hits, two RBI, and a run scored.
• Gabbi Barnowsky finished 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI, and a stolen base.
• The Warhawks out-hit the Chargers 12-6.

 

 
UP NEXT
AUM returns to action Thursday, May 7, in its second game of the GSC Championship and will face the winner of No. 2 West Alabama and No. 7 Valdosta State. First pitch is to be determined due to weather.


#WeAreAUM 

For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.