March 5, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Freshman Myesha Finney had two triples and her first career home run as the 20th-ranked Auburn softball team defeated Boston College for the second consecutive day, 9-3, at the FAU Pepsi Cola Classic. The game marked Auburn's first of the day Sunday as Auburn takes on Florida Atlantic in the early afternoon at FAU Field.
Finney, an Atlanta native, went 4 for 4 in the win, coming just a double shy of hitting for the cycle. She singled in the second, tripled in the fourth, tripled again in the fifth and hit a three-run home run to left in the seventh.
All in all, Finney had four RBI for the game, giving her six for the season.
"Myesha had one incredible game," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said of Finney, who started her fourth game of the season and second in Boca Raton. "She saw the ball well, and painted the foul lines with line drives. She also made a big catch early in the game that really energized the team."
The Tigers (15-3 overall) used a four-run fifth to distance themselves from Boston College after being tied at one after three. Kristina McCain led off the inning with her second single of the game, then was moved to third on a double by senior Ashley Griffin. Freshman Tatiana Fernandez drove in the team's first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.
Junior Sara Ghezzi then singled in Griffin from third. Sophomore Brittany Scott pinch ran for Ghezzi and scored on a Starr Dorsey single to right. Finney then hit her second triple of the game, a shot that caressed the right field line, scoring Dorsey.
Boston College scored two runs off Auburn starter Beth DiPietro in the fifth, closing to within two. However, Finney's three RBI coupled with a Dorsey suicide squeeze in the seventh gave Auburn its final lead.
DiPietro improved to 7-1 with the win after throwing 4 2/3 innings. She allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out four. Junior Holly Currie came on in relief of DiPietro in the fifth, and shut down the Eagles (3-5). She struck out two, allowing one hit in 2 1/3 for her first save of the season and seventh of her career.
Savana Lloyd got the loss for Boston College. She allowed nine hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. She walked one and did not strike out a batter.
Auburn wraps up its turn at the FAU Pepsi Cola Classic against Florida Atlantic, scheduled for 12 p.m. EST. The game will have live stats available on www.auburntigers.com. Auburn head coach Tina Deese will be going for her 600th career victory against the Owls.
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the first game and will do so against Florida Atlantic as well ... The team improved to 10-1 in the blues this season ... Myesha Finney's home run was Auburn's 18th of the season ... The eight hits allowed by the Tigers marked the most Auburn has allowed in a single game this season.