April 9, 2006
BATON ROUGE, La. - Freshman Tara Donaldson's two-out double in the sixth proved to be enough as the 19th-ranked Auburn softball team defeated No. 11 LSU, 1-0, in the series finale Sunday at Tiger Park.
Donaldson's double drove in Holly Currie from second, giving Auburn the game's only run. The RBI was Donaldson's fourth of the season as the Mobile native started as the designated player for the fifth time this season.
"That was a very clutch hit for Tara," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "She placed it perfectly in left center, which helped us manufacture that run. That was such a big win against a very strong LSU team. Victories against Western Division teams are very important at this time of the year."
Deese gave the starting nod to sophomore Brittany Day, who had thrown just 3 2/3 innings this season entering the game. The Columbus, Ga., native impressed in her second start and fifth appearance of the year, limiting LSU (38-6 overall, 12-3 SEC) to three hits and five walks in four innings. She struck out two, but because the Tigers did not score until the sixth inning, Day did not figure in the decision.
That decision belonged to junior Beth DiPietro, who was the pitcher of record and improved to 12-4. The Riverview, Fla., native appeared for the second time in the series and made her seventh relief appearance of the year. She worked three innings, allowing just one hit while walking three. DiPietro is 3-3 in Southeastern Conference games this season.
"Brittany and Beth threw very well," Deese said. "Eight walks is a lot, but they kept LSU from scoring, which is all you need to do. Brittany really impressed today. This game was a big step for her."
Auburn manufactured its only run of the game in the seventh, placing Currie on second (fielder's choice) and Tatiana Fernandez at first (single to center). Then, Donaldson's double found the left center gap, getting Currie across the plate.
LSU stranded 13 runners in the game compared to Auburn's (26-12, 7-8) seven. The Bayou Bengals left a runner on base in every inning but the fourth, including two in the seventh. LSU threatened in the seventh, placing a runner on first with one out. Stephanie Hill proceeded to hit a strike to center, but Auburn senior Amy Show speared the ball at the base of the fence. LSU eventually put another runner on base, but Killian Roessner grounded out to freshman Ashley Arcuri at second to end the game.
The Tigers next take on Mississippi State Friday and Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field. Auburn and Mississippi State play a solo game Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. CT., before finishing with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. All three games will be available live on the Internet at www.auburntigers.com and WZMG-AM (910).
TIGER NOTES: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the game and are now 14-6 in them this season ... The start at first base marked the first of Holly Currie's career ... Myesha Finney batted in the No. 2 hole in the batting order for the first time this season ... Finney is the fifth Tiger to bat in the No. 2 spot, although the first since Ashley Griffin began batting in that spot of the order on March 1 against Southern Miss. ... Brittany Day's 4-inning effort was her longest this season ... Her previous long was 1 2/3 innings against Georgia on March 25.