April 14, 2006
AUBURN, Ala. - Freshman Tatiana Fernandez hit her fifth home run of the season and Holly Currie her second triple as the 20th-ranked Auburn softball team defeated Mississippi State, 4-1, Friday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Fernandez and Currie were the catalysts for Auburn's four-run third inning that sent the Tigers to the come-from-behind victory. Mississippi State had taken an early 1-0 lead in the second on a single by catcher Blair Geddings.
Currie answered back in the third. With senior Ashley Griffin at second and freshman Myesha Finney at third, Currie smashed a 1-0 pitch from Mississippi State starter Ragan Blake that hit the top of the fence in right center.
Fernandez doubled Auburn's runs on the next at bat. She took Blake deep down the right field line on a 1-2 pitch, giving Auburn its final 4-1 lead.
"That was a big inning," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Holly and Tatiana really swung a hot bat tonight. Our offense really worked well. We'll need to keep it up in the doubleheader tomorrow."
Fernandez had her 12th multiple-hit game of the season, finishing 2 for 3 with two RBI. Her two RBI marked her sixth multiple-RBI effort of the year, while Currie's two marked her 10th.
Junior Beth DiPietro started for the Tigers and earned her 13th win of the season after scattering five hits and one run in six innings. She struck out seven and walked four. Currie came on in relief of DiPietro in the seventh, earning her fourth save of the year after striking out one and walking one.
Blake took the loss for Mississippi State (30-17, 4-11), falling to 16-9. She allowed all four runs -- all were unearned -- while walking three and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings. She allowed three hits.
The teams will finish the three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field. The first game will begin at 1 p.m. CT. Catch each live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com or on the radio at WZMG-AM (910).
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the game and are now 15-6 in them this season ... Auburn played in just its eighth night game of the season and is 6-2 in night contests this year ... Kristina McCain led off the game with a walk and has reached by a hit or walk in her first at bat in 20 of her 27 games batting leadoff this season.