Feb. 21, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Junior Holly Currie struck out 13 and Sara Ghezzi went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBI as the 20th-ranked Auburn softball team cruised to an 8-0 victory over UAB on Tuesday at George Ward Park.
For Currie, it was her sixth double-digit strikeout of the season in just seven appearances as she improved to 6-0 on the year. She struck out at least one batter in every inning but the sixth and did not allow a hit after the fourth inning. Currie did not allow a UAB runner to get past second base.
Ghezzi hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the sixth, and doubled home two more runners in the seventh. She had singled in the fourth in her second at bat of the game, which extended her hit streak to eight games. She is batting .750 (12 for 16) during that span.
"Holly and Sara certainly stood out this game but it was really a great team effort," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Everyone was at the top of their game in this win, really backing up Holly, who had another great game from the circle. And Sara continued the success she's had against UAB."
Auburn started the game's scoring in the second on sophomore Starr Dorsey's double to left center. Her fifth RBI of the season scored senior Ashley Griffin from first, giving the Tigers (10-1 overall) a quick 1-0 lead.
An inning later, junior Kristina McCain connected on a pitch from UAB (2-1) starter Kayla Harris and sent it over the left center field fence for a two-run shot. It was McCain's second of the season and put the Tigers ahead, 3-0.
Ghezzi posted Auburn's second two-run shot of the game in the sixth. She connected off Harris for her second hit of the game, sending the Tigers to a 5-0 lead. The round-tripper marked Ghezzi's team-leading fourth of the season.
Freshman Ashley Arcuri hit her first career home run in the seventh. The blast, a solo shot over the left field fence to lead off the inning, was the first of Arcuri's career as she was pinch hitting for left fielder Taryn Gray.
McCain, Ghezzi and Arcuri's home runs gave Auburn two or more in a game for the fourth time this season. The Tigers leads the Southeastern Conference with 14 home runs this season.
Harris fell to 1-1 on the season after allowing six runs and seven hits in six innings of work.
Auburn next heads to the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., from Friday through Sunday. The Tigers play Arizona State at 5 p.m. EST., on Friday, then Missouri at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Auburn will face North Carolina at 10 a.m. Catch all the games live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com and WZMG-AM (910). Live stats for each game will be available on www.nfca.org.
TIGER NOTES: Auburn wore its blue uniforms for the seventh time this season ... Auburn is 7-0 in its blue uniforms this season ... The Tigers had a number of players play before a hometown crowd ... They included Kristina McCain (Mount Olive), Amy Shaw (Ashville) and Taryn Gray (Vestavia Hills) ... Before the game, the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Collegiate Poll for week three was announced and the Tigers remained 20th ... The USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Collegiate Poll is due out Wednesday ... Holly Currie struck out at least two batters in each of her first five innings ... She struck out two in the first, three in the second, three in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth ... In three career games against UAB, Sara Ghezzi is 5 for 9 with a home run, two doubles and seven RBI ... The Tigers improved to 8-2 all-time against UAB and hold the series lead in Birmingham, 4-0.