Auburn Softball Holds Off Troy For 3-2 Victory

Auburn Softball Holds Off Troy For 3-2 Victory

Audio l Box Score

March 2, 2005

TROY, Ala. -- Paige Jones' fifth inning bases-loaded walk proved to be the game-winner Wednesday as Auburn defeated Troy, 3-2, in a non-conference game at the Lady Trojans Softball Complex.

With Ashley Griffin, Kristina McCain and Sara Dean all on base after three walks, Jones reached first on an illegal pitch, which turned out to be the fourth ball of the at bat, thus giving Jones first.

In the fourth, Jones gave Auburn (19-5) a 2-1 lead after homering to left center off Troy starter Kacie Flinn. The shot was Jones' fourth on the season and second away from Jane B. Moore Field. The Alabaster, Ala., native led the Tiger offensive attack by going 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Beth DiPietro threw five innings to improve to 9-1 on the season. She allowed six hits and two runs while striking out three. She has won her last eight decisions and has not lost since Feb. 6.

Holly Currie came on in relief of DiPietro and earned her second save of the season after working two scoreless innings. She got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, inducing Troy's Jenny Boyd to ground out to Ashley Griffin, who stepped on second base to end the inning.

"We are learning to play together as a team in tight games," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "That's going to pay off later in the season when we get into Southeastern Conference play, where all the games are close and any team can beat any team. I'm really proud of the way the girls stay focused tonight and held off a tough Trojan team."

Kristina McCain made the most of Auburn's first hit, it coming in the third inning. Starting at third for the 13th straight game, McCain singled off Tara Blackwell's glove at second base with two out. The hit drove in Lolani Alvarez from third, putting the Tigers up, 1-0.

Troy (13-5) scored its first run of the game in the third on a double by Jenny Boyd, then saw Tamra Howren hit her fourth home run of the season in the fifth, pulling the Trojans within one.

Flinn fell to 4-3 on the season after allowing two hits and two runs over four innings. She walked two and struck out four.

The Tigers have now won nine of their last 10 games and 13 of 15. They've also won their last three games over Troy, and improved to 7-4 in the all-time series.

"We've won a lot of games in different fashions this season," Deese said. "I really look forward to seeing what we can do in Atlanta this weekend. It will be a real good test for us against three quality teams before we open up SEC play next week."

The Tigers play in their final regular season tournament of the 2005 season Friday when they take on Middle Tennessee State at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta. Auburn and Middle Tennessee State will actually play two games Friday, at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. CT, respectively, as part of the tournament's Pool 2. Other opponents in the pool include Georgia Southern and Iowa, the Tigers' opponents on Saturday. The tournament is hosted by Georgia Tech.

TIGER NOTES:
The Tigers and Trojans have now played at least once in eight of the nine years of Auburn softball's existence ... Auburn and Troy, which was known as Troy State prior to this year, did not play in 1997, the Tigers' first season ... Neither team has posted a winning streak greater than three games in the series, which now numbers 11 games ... The Tigers have won three games in a row over the Trojans twice ... The other streak came from 1999-2000 ... Ashley Griffin started at shortstop and batted leadoff for the 15th straight game ... Kristina McCain has batted in the No. 2 slot in the order for the past 13 games, while Holly Currie and Lauren Walton have been at No. 3 and No. 9, respectively, for the last 13 games as well ... Auburn continued its slow start in the first two innings ... The Tigers went hitless in the first two innings against the Trojans, failing to get on base ... Amy Shaw became the first Tiger to get on base, when, in the third inning, she bunted and reached on a throwing error by Troy starting pitcher Kacie Flinn.