The Auburn Tigers defeat Georgia softball 11–10 thanks to a walk-off home run.
In a game that embodied every element of Southeastern Conference softball drama—momentum swings, clutch hits, costly errors, and electric emotion—the Auburn Tigers walked off the No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs 11–10 on Sunday afternoon, delivering one of the most memorable wins of their season thanks to a towering home run in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs and the game knotted at 10, sophomore slugger Bri Ellis stepped to the plate, carrying not only Auburn’s hopes but also the weight of a weekend series filled with back-and-forth battles and mounting pressure. On a 2-1 pitch, Ellis turned on an inside fastball and launched it deep over the left-center field fence, sending Jane B. Moore Field into a frenzy and lifting Auburn to an exhilarating walk-off victory.
“I just told myself to breathe,” Ellis said after the game, still beaming with adrenaline. “This team fights so hard, and I just wanted to do my part. As soon as I felt it off the bat, I knew it was gone.”
The dramatic finish capped off a wild offensive shootout that featured a combined 21 runs, 25 hits, three lead changes, and moments of heartbreak and heroism for both programs. For Auburn (29–12, 9–6 SEC), the win not only clinched a pivotal series over their border rivals but also boosted their postseason resume as May inches closer. For Georgia (33–9, 10–5 SEC), it was a tough pill to swallow after holding a late lead and nearly escaping with a series win on the road.
A Game of Swings—Both at the Plate and on the Scoreboard
From the opening pitch, the tone was clear: this wouldn’t be a pitching duel. Auburn struck first in the bottom of the first inning, stringing together three hits including a two-run single by freshman sensation KK McCrary. The Bulldogs responded immediately in the top of the second, fueled by Sydney Chambley’s two-run homer that tied the game 2–2.
Over the next four innings, both teams traded offensive haymakers. Georgia’s Jaiden Fields crushed a three-run home run in the third to put the Bulldogs up 5–3, but Auburn answered in the bottom half with four runs of their own, highlighted by a two-run double from senior outfielder Rose Roach and a sharp RBI single from Makayla Packer.
The rollercoaster nature of the game continued into the fifth and sixth innings. Georgia reclaimed the lead with a five-run sixth inning, capitalizing on back-to-back defensive errors by the Tigers and a clutch bases-clearing double from standout shortstop Sara Mosley. Auburn trailed 10–7 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Auburn’s Relentless Spirit
With their backs against the wall, Auburn once again showed resilience—a hallmark of head coach Mickey Dean’s 2025 squad. Ellis, who had already driven in two runs earlier in the contest, led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. Back-to-back hits by Packer and Madi Gipson loaded the bases, and the Tigers chipped away with an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to pull within one, 10–9.
Georgia’s senior ace Shelby Walters was summoned to close the door in the seventh, but Auburn had one more answer. After two quick outs, junior catcher Ally Harris drew a full-count walk to keep Auburn’s hopes alive. That brought Ellis back to the plate, setting the stage for her walk-off blast—a moment that will be remembered in Auburn softball lore for years to come.
“Bri’s been working hard all season,” said Coach Dean. “She’s a competitor. She’s fearless in the box, and when she connects like that, you’re going to need a parachute to catch it.”
The Impact of the Win
Beyond the immediate emotional high, the victory holds considerable implications for the Tigers. Beating a top-10 team like Georgia in dramatic fashion sends a message across the SEC and to the NCAA selection committee: Auburn is for real. The Tigers had been hovering just outside the top 25 for several weeks, and this series win—punctuated by such a high-stakes, thrilling finale—should boost their national profile.
More importantly, it marks their second series win over a ranked opponent in conference play, giving Auburn a key tiebreaker in the tightly contested SEC standings. With just three conference series remaining, including matchups against Alabama and Florida, every win matters in the hunt for SEC Tournament seeding and a potential NCAA Regional host spot.
“We needed this,” said Ellis. “It’s a reminder of who we are and what we’re capable of when we play Auburn softball.”
Georgia’s Missed Opportunity
While Auburn celebrated, Georgia was left to wonder what could have been. The Bulldogs came into the game ranked eighth nationally and were eyeing a series win that would solidify their top-5 status heading into the final stretch of SEC play. Instead, a few defensive lapses and missed pitches unraveled what had been an impressive offensive showing.
“We didn’t execute when we needed to most,” said Georgia head coach Tony Baldwin. “Give credit to Auburn—they kept coming at us. We’ve got to learn from this and be sharper when it counts.”
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs remain one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country, with six different players recording RBIs and four home runs in the game. Fields, Mosley, and Chambley combined for seven RBIs, and Georgia out-hit Auburn 13–12.
But timely errors—two in the sixth inning and one that extended the seventh—proved costly. Add in a taxed bullpen and the inability to retire Ellis in crunch time, and the Bulldogs were sent back to Athens with a tough loss.
Ellis: The Star of the Day
There were plenty of offensive standouts in the game, but none shone brighter than Bri Ellis. The sophomore went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, two runs scored, a double, and the walk-off homer. Her performance not only powered Auburn’s comeback but also cemented her as one of the premier power hitters in the SEC.
This game marked Ellis’s third multi-hit performance of the week and raised her season home run total to 14, tying her for third in the conference. Her presence in the middle of Auburn’s lineup gives the Tigers a true threat every time she steps to the plate, and Sunday’s heroics might be a defining moment in her breakout campaign.
“She’s a special player,” said Coach Dean. “And the best part is, she wants to get better every day. That’s the Auburn way.”
The Crowd Factor
Sunday’s game drew more than 2,500 fans, creating an electric atmosphere that mirrored postseason intensity. From rally chants to standing ovations, the Auburn faithful played their part in energizing the Tigers throughout the wild affair.
“You could feel the crowd willing us back into it,” said pitcher Maddie Penta. “It’s one of those games you dream about as a kid, and our fans made it even more special.”
Penta, despite not starting the game, earned the win in relief after throwing the final two innings and keeping Georgia scoreless. Her strikeout of Mosley in the top of the seventh, with two runners on, gave Auburn the chance they needed in the bottom half.
What’s Next
With the win, Auburn now looks ahead to a midweek matchup against Samford before traveling to face the Kentucky Wildcats in what could be another crucial SEC showdown. If the Tigers can carry Sunday’s momentum into Lexington, they could find themselves surging into the national rankings.
Georgia, meanwhile, will look to regroup quickly as they return home to face a red-hot Tennessee team next weekend. The Bulldogs will aim to clean up their defensive play and get back to their identity as one of the nation’s most balanced teams.
Both teams remain contenders for deep postseason runs, but on Sunday, Auburn was the team that found a little extra magic when it mattered most.
Auburn’s 11–10 walk-off win over Georgia wasn’t just another regular-season victory—it was a defining moment for a team that continues to prove it belongs among the SEC’s elite. The resilience, the emotion, the crowd, and, most of all, the swing that ended it all — they combined for an instant classic. And as Bri Ellis rounded the bases with arms raised and teammates mobbing her at home, it was clear: on this day, the Tigers roared loudest.
