April 4, 2006
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Playing in front of friends and family less than an hour away from where she grew up, Auburn junior Holly Currie put on a show for the 452 in attendance at the Kiwanis Metro Sportsplex Tuesday night with her third no-hitter of the season. The Pisgah, Ala., native tied a personal best with 15 strikeouts as the 20th-ranked Auburn softball team defeated Tennessee Tech, 4-0.
Currie's third no hitter of the season happened the be the fourth of her career; her first coming in 2005 against the College of Charleston. This year, Currie has no hit Mercer, Missouri and Tennessee Tech.
On Tuesday, she struck out 15 for the second time this season. Currie hit the double-digit strikeout mark for the 12th time in 24 appearances this year. She is now 14-5 after walking one in seven innings of work.
"It was nice to get run support early," Currie said of Auburn's three first-inning runs. "I think the whole town of Pisgah was here. It's was very nice to have everyone cheering for me. It was a real honor."
The 15 strikeouts pushed Currie past the 200-mark for the year; she has 201. Last season, Currie had the second-best single-season total in Auburn history with 250.
"We're very proud of the way Holly pitched tonight," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "It was even more special for her because of all the friends and family that got to watch her pitch. She struck out 15 and walked one, which is a great, great outing."
The Tigers took the lead in the first with three runs, highlighted by an RBI double by Sara Ghezzi. Myesha Finney also singled home a run in the first.
Kristina McCain, Currie and Finney all scored for the Tigers in the first, who have now outscored opponents 35-12 in the first frame this year.
Freshman Tatiana Fernandez made it 4-0 in the fifth with a single to right, scoring Ashley Griffin from third.
Ghezzi and freshman Tara Donaldson paced Auburn with two hits, while six of Auburn's starters had at least one.
Bonnie Bynum fell to 18-5 on the year after allowing seven hits and four runs in five innings. She struck out four and walked two in her appearance.
Auburn returns to SEC play Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. Auburn will square off against LSU in a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. CT. Catch the games live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com and on the radio at WZMG-AM (910).
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their white uniforms for the game and improved to 11-3 in them this season ... The Tigers fell three spots to No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Collegiate Poll ... Auburn was previously 17th ... Kristina McCain led off the game with a walk, the third straight game and eighth in 11 in which she has reached base safely to start the game.