April 23, 2006
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Holly Currie scattered four hits in more than six innings of work and Beth DiPietro earned her second save of the season as the 18th-ranked Auburn softball team took the rubber game of a three-game set over Arkansas, 2-1, Sunday at Lady'Back Yard.
Currie worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and two walks while striking out seven. She gave way to DiPietro, who faced one batter in the seventh, forcing Mindy O'Malley to hit into a game-ending fielder's choice. DiPietro's save was her second of the season.
Currie improved to 16-7 on the year and 2-0 in two appearances in the three-game series. She is now 5-0 all-time against Arkansas in five appearances against the Lady'Backs. In 29 2/3 career innings against Arkansas, Currie has struck out 36 and allowed 17 hits.
"Holly looked strong for the first six innings and just gave up a few hits in the end," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Beth needed to get one batter and did. Our offense came through when it needed. It was a low scoring game, so every hit counted even more."
Arkansas made it close, scoring its only run of the game in the seventh. Dayna Huckabee doubled to right center, scoring Blaire Perry from second. Currie then went on to walk pinch hitter Meagan Harney before DiPietro came in and forced O'Malley to hit into the fielder's choice.
Heather Garrison, getting the start at first, gave Auburn a 1-0 lead in the top half of the second, driving in Brittany Scott on a groundout to short.
Scott was pinch running for Sara Ghezzi, who had started off the inning with a single to right center. Scott moved to second when freshman Taryn Gray beat out a bunt. Scott and Gray both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Currie, her second of the series.
The Tigers added to the lead in the fourth on a double by Currie, her third of the season and 32nd of her career. The double scored Ghezzi from second, extending Auburn's lead to 2-0.
Ghezzi and Ashley Griffin both posted two hits for the second straight game and paced the Auburn offense, which tallied seven hits and a walk. Ghezzi extended her hit streak to five games with the 2 for 3 effort. Griffin, meanwhile, singled twice -- in the third and fifth innings -- to earn at least one hit in each of the three games against the Lady'Backs.
The win gave Auburn 10 in its last 11 games against Arkansas, including five of the last six in Fayetteville.
Auburn returns home for the 10th annual Iron Bowl, starting Tuesday at Jane B. Moore Field. Auburn and Alabama begin play at 5 p.m. CST., with the second game scheduled for approximately 20 minutes after the first game's completion.
Admission is free at Jane B. Moore Field. For those who can't make it, each game will be available on www.auburntigers.com and WZMG-AM (910).
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the game and are now 16-6 in them this season ... Lauren Walton started her first game in left field since March 4 against Boston College and proceeded to spear a sinking line drive from Arkansas' Dayna Huckabee in the third, keeping starter Holly Currie's no-hitter alive ... Currie, however, gave up her first hit of the game two batters later to Mindy O'Malley ... Sara Ghezzi earned her two hits in much the same fashion ... She singled to right center to lead off the second and singled up the middle to lead off the fourth.