March 5, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The 20th-ranked Auburn softball team lost its final game at the FAU Pepsi Cola Classic Sunday, dropping a 5-3 decision to tournament host Florida Atlantic at FAU Field.
The Owls scored five runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 3-0 Auburn deficit. Florida Atlantic posted four hits during the inning and was aided by an Auburn error. The loss snapped Auburn's win streak at four games after the Tigers had extended it with a 9-3 victory over Boston College to begin the day.
Auburn (15-4 overall) junior Holly Currie picked up the loss, falling to 8-2 on the season. She struck out 13 but allowed all five runs in the sixth inning.
Florida Atlantic's Jen Musillo improved to 3-1 this season, allowing all three Auburn runs. However, they came in the first two innings as the Tigers jumped to the early lead.
Auburn junior Kristina McCain began the game's scoring after walking in the bottom half of the first. She moved to second on a wild pitch, then went to third on a ground out by catcher Tatiana Fernandez. McCain score when junior Sara Ghezzi singled to left.
The Tigers put two more on the board in the second, aided by an FAU error. Myesha Finney, who went 4 for 4 against Boston College and was 1 for 1 against FAU, walked to start the inning and scored on a McCain walk with the bases loaded. Two batters later, Fernandez reached on an error, allowing sophomore Starr Dorsey to score from third.
FAU loaded the bases in the sixth after scoring two runs, and pushed the go-ahead run across the plate on a single to right by catcher Charlotte Baird. Two runs scored on the play as a fielding error allowed Lauren Crandall to score from second.
Auburn ended its turn at the FAU Pepsi Cola Classic with a 3-1 record. The Tigers opened tournament play Saturday with a 10-2 victory over Boston College and a 4-1 win over Florida Atlantic. Auburn defeated Boston College again Sunday, 9-3.
Auburn returns home Wednesday for its final non-conference game before SEC play starts. The Tigers, who are 8-2 at home this season, will take on Samford in a 6 p.m. CT start at Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be carried live on the Internet on www.auburntigers.com and on WZMG-AM (910). Live stats will also be available by visiting www.auburntigers.com.
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the second game, in addition to the first game Sunday, and fell to 10-2 in them this season.