March 1, 2006
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Junior Beth DiPietro struck out six in a complete game effort and freshman Tatiana Fernandez drove in a season-high four runs as the 20th-ranked Auburn softball team defeated Southern Miss., 4-1, in a non-conference game on the campus of the University of West Florida.
DiPietro threw her sixth complete game of the season, allowing four hits while walking two. She improved to 5-1 on the season.
"Beth threw well again tonight," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "It's continuing a trend for Beth this season. She's hitting her spots and limiting her walks, which is keeping opposing batters from focusing on a certain pitch. She's handling herself very well."
Fernandez accounted for all of Auburn's (12-3 overall) runs, driving in a career and season-high four. She finished 2 for 3, singling in the first and tripling in the fifth.
"Tat saw the ball well tonight," Deese said. "She provided the offense at the right time and played well defensively. She's continuing to mature."
Fernandez opened up the game in the bottom half of the fifth, posting her first career triple to right field with two outs and the bases loaded. Senior Robin Martin and juniors Lauren Walton and Holly Currie all came around to score, giving Auburn the 4-1 lead and knocking Southern Miss. (10-11) starter Lacey Gros out of the game.
The Tigers and Golden Eagles traded runs in the first. Southern Miss. started the scoring when Ashley Davis doubled to right, scoring Ashley Brenan from third. Auburn responded on Fernandez's first RBI of the game, a single that brought junior Kristina McCain in from second.
Martin posted two hits as the Auburn offense had six hits in the victory.
Gros took the loss after allowing five hits and four runs over 4 2/3 innings. She fell to 6-6 on the year.
Auburn finishes off its six-game week with the FAU Pepsi Cola Classic in Boca Raton, Fla. The Tigers face Boston College at 12 p.m. EST., and Florida Atlantic at 4 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, Auburn will face Boston College again at 10 a.m. and Florida Atlantic at 12 p.m.
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the game ... Auburn is now 9-1 in them this season ... The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Auburn senior shortstop Ashley Griffin, who hails from nearby Pace, Fla. ... The game marked the first of March for the Tigers ... Auburn has now played 10 games on March 1 in the team's history and is 7-3 on the date ... The contest marked the first ever meeting between Auburn and Southern Miss. ... The USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Collegiate Poll was released prior to the game and the Tigers dropped a spot, from 17th to 18th.