Auburn Softball Team Survives Scare Against UAB, 4-3
Box Score
February 17, 2004
Beth DiPietro |
BIRMINGHAM - The Auburn Softball team rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat UAB, 4-3, on Tuesday at George Wark Park in Birmingham.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 12-2 and match the 2002 team for the best start in school history. The Blazers fell to 1-6.
"I was really proud of the way the team held their head up when we fell behind," said head coach Tina Deese. "We stayed confident and didn't put too much pressure on ourselves."
Auburn fell behind in the first when UAB posted three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Blazers got things started with a pair of walks and a single. A Kris Lara single through the left side brought Holly Krzan home and kept the bases loaded.
After the first run, Kristen Keyes replaced starter Beth DiPietro in the circle only to see two Blazers score when catcher Sara Dean's pickoff attempt was misplayed by Martha Phillips at first base.
Following the that, Keyes shutdown the Blazers, pitching 6 2/3 perfect innings while striking out 13. She earned the win to move to 6-2 on the season. Erica Mascarenas took the loss for UAB to fall to 1-3.
"Thank goodness for Kristen," said Deese. "She was brilliant today. Everything was working. I have never seen her throw that well in a game."
Auburn answered with two runs in the top of the second to cut the deficit to one. Sara Ghezzi's double brought home Beth DiPietro and a Lolani Alvarez single scored Ghezzi.
In the fifth, Auburn took the lead for good. Ashley Griffin led off with a single and moved to third on Dean's one-out double. Griffin scored on a squeeze bunt by Phillips, who reached on the play. McCain then brought Dean home from third with a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run.
"It was the little things that won this game for us," Deese said. "Martha laid down a great squeeze bunt to score Ashley. Then Kristina came up with a big sac fly."
Auburn takes to the road this weekend for the Campbell/Cartier Classic hosted by San Diego State. The Tigers open the tournament with Cal State-Northridge on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.