Currie's Home Run In Seventh Gives No. 23 Tigers Comeback Victory
Audio l Box Score
April 3, 2005
Holly Currie |
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Auburn's second-to-last at bat of the game was the decision-maker Sunday at the Mississippi State Softball Field. Holly Currie's two-run home run over the left field fence in the seventh inning off Bulldog reliever Ragan Blake gave No. 23 Auburn a 6-4 come-from-behind victory in front of 329 and a regional audience on Fox Sports Net South.
The win gave Auburn the series victory over the Bulldogs (24-18 overall, 6-9 Southeastern Conference), 2-1. The Tigers (36-10, 10-4) have now won six of their last seven games.
"What a win," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We never let down, even though we came into the seventh down a run. That's so important in any game you play, but especially when it comes against an SEC opponent."
The Tigers came into the seventh down one, but kept their offense alive. Lolani Alvarez started off the inning with a double, her second extra base hit of the game, then scored two batters later on a Kristina McCain single. The sophomore's second RBI of the game tied the score and set the table for Currie's 11th home run of the season.
Beth DiPietro came on in relief of Currie, who started the game from the circle, and threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out eight in holding the Bulldogs scoreless. She allowed just three hits and walked one, improving to 19-4 this season. Ragan Blake worked in relief for Mississippi State, throwing three innings, allowing three runs. She fell to 1-2 this season.
The Tigers got in a hole early, allowing Mississippi State to send 10 batters to the plate in the first inning en route to four runs. Currie started the game but did not make it out of the first frame, allowing four runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning.
Auburn responded in the third on Currie's first two RBI of the game. With Amy Shaw on third and Ashley Griffin on second, Currie hit a hard shot that tipped off the third baseman's glove and into left field, allowing both runners to score. Currie was, however, stranded at first base with the Tigers down two.
McCain drove in her 23rd run of the season with a single in the fifth, pulling the Tigers to within one. But like Currie two innings earlier, McCain was stranded on the basepaths.
McCain ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, extending her career-high hit streak to 12 games. She is 17-for-42 during the streak. Alvarez, Currie and Dean all finished with two hits apiece while Currie had four RBI.
Twenty-third ranked Auburn now enjoys a week off before hosting No. 4 Tennessee Saturday and Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field. Saturday will consist of a doubleheader, scheduled to start at 12 p.m. CT. Sunday's game, the final of a three-game series, begins at 12 p.m. Catch the games live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com by clicking on the live stats and live audio links. Those in the Auburn area can also catch the game on the radio dial at WANI-AM (1400).
TIGER NOTES: The game concluded Auburn's first half of SEC play despite the fact the Tigers played just 14 games ... Auburn and South Carolina were rained out in the final game of their three-game series last week ... At the midway point of SEC play last season, the Tigers were 28-8 overall and 10-5 in league play ... That club went on to the best record in school history with a 42-18 mark and 19-10 record in the SEC ... After 46 games last season, Auburn's mark at this point of the 2005 season, the Tigers were 34-12 overall and 15-9 in the SEC ... Beth DiPietro struck out the side in the sixth inning ... Lolani Alvarez led off each of her three at bats, grounding out in the third, tripling in the fifth and doubling in the seventh.