Feb. 18, 2007
AUBURN - Anna Thompson worked 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Holly Currie hit her third home run of the season as the Auburn softball team ended the Tiger Invitational with a 5-1 victory over UAB Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.
The win improved Auburn's record to 5-7 this season. The Tigers ended the tournament with a 3-2 record, finishing second to Virginia Tech, which went 4-1 in its five games.
On Sunday, Thompson picked up her second win of the season after entering the game in the fourth in relief of Currie, who went 3 2/3 innings. Thompson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, struck out five and hit two batters - the only way UAB reached base against the Huntsville, Ala., native. She is 2-3 this season.
Currie was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and punctuated that honor with a solo home run in the first that gave Auburn the 1-0 lead Sunday against UAB. Currie went 7 for 12 in five games, walking five times with two home runs.
Against UAB, Currie started from the circle and allowed five hits and one run while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings.
"This was a key win early in the season for us," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Holly and Anna continued to throw strong innings for us and the offense picked up where it left off Saturday against Tulsa."
UAB (4-5) pulled to within two, 3-1, in the fourth on a single by Allison Davis that barely eluded center fielder Lauren Walton. The Tigers, however, were able to answer back in the fifth. Tatiana Fernandez singled down the right field line for the team's first run of the inning, then watched as two batters later, Jorja Bell walked with the bases loaded to give Auburn its final 5-1 lead.
Myesha Finney, Auburn's other All-Tournament member, went 2 for 4 in the victory, giving her six hits for the weekend. Sara Ghezzi had five RBI in five games, including two on a single in the third inning against the Blazers that gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Jennifer Nelson picked up the loss for UAB, falling to 3-2 on the season. She scattered five hits and five runs over six innings. Nelson struck out 10 and walked four.
Auburn next hits the field Friday in Columbus, Ga., at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Tigers open the tournament with North Carolina and Michigan on Friday.
Tiger Notes: The Tigers wore their white uniforms and are 2-2 in them this season ... Virginia Tech's Angela Tincher was named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament after striking out 49 batters in 21 innings ... Other All-Tournament members included Tulsa's Sara Dyer, Tennessee Tech's Bonnie Bynum and Ashley Potts, Notre Dame's Heather Johnson, Virginia Tech's Stephanie Savre and Caroline Stolle and UAB's Jennifer Nelson and Holly Krzan ... The Tigers improved to 8-2 all-time against UAB and have won six straight against the Blazers.