Auburn Softball Rolls To 14-0 Shutout Of UAB
Audio l Box Score
February 15, 2005
Ashley Griffin |
Auburn -- Kristina McCain set a career-high by going 4-for-4 with one run batted in and two stolen bases as Auburn defeated UAB, 14-0, Wednesday in a five-inning non-conference game at Jane B. Moore Field.
McCain doubled and hit three singles in the victory, which sent the Tigers to 9-3 on the season. McCain's four hits bettered her previous high of three, set three times last season, most recently against Kentucky.
"Kristina had a great game," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said.
"I was real impressed with the way she swung the bat, especially having batted in the No. 2 position after being in the No. 1 slot in the six other games she's played in this season."
Ashley Griffin, meanwhile, helped pace the Auburn attack, which posted a season-high 13 hits with three doubles and one triple and four stolen bases against the Blazers (7-6). Griffin hit her first home run of the season in Auburn's four-run second inning, while also singling and doubling.
Lolani Alvarez hit her first career home run in the fourth. She finished 1-for-1 with three RBI, which set a career-high for the senior from Cypress, Calif.
"Our entire offense set the pace tonight," Deese said. "You couldn't have asked for a better effort heading into the War Eagle Classic this weekend. Our bats are hot right now and that showed against UAB."
Beth DiPietro improved her record to 4-1, shutting out the Blazers while allowing just two hits in five innings of work. DiPietro struck out six for her third straight victory. She also went 0-for-2 with a RBI in her first plate appearances this season.
Auburn posted runs in each of the four innings it came to bat. The Tigers opened the game with three in the first, followed by four each in the second and third innings, then four again in the fourth. Of Auburn's nine wins this season, six have come in games shortened by the eight-run rule, including the last three straight.
Amanda Antonovich fell to 0-3 for UAB, giving up six runs, five earned, and four hits in one inning of work.
Auburn next plays in the War Eagle Classic Friday at Jane B. Moore Field. The Tigers host Gardner-Webb at 10 a.m., CT. Auburn then takes on Boston College at 12:30 p.m. The games can be heard live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com or by tuning into WANI-AM (1400) in the Auburn area.
TIGER NOTES: Amy Shaw tripled for the second time this season ... The junior transfer currently has Auburn's only two triples this season ... Eight different Tigers had at least one hit in the victory ...
Auburn improved to 6-2 all-time against UAB, with the Blazers' last victory coming Feb. 25, 2003 in Auburn ... The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the sixth time this season and have gone 5-1 when doing so ... Auburn also improved to 4-0 in night games ... Other games Friday at the War Eagle Classic include Birmingham-Southern and Austin Peay facing off at 12:30 p.m. at the Auburn Softball Complex, Austin Peay and Boston College at Jane B. Moore Field at 3:30 p.m. and Gardner-Webb taking on Birmingham-Southern at 6 p.m.