Feb. 27, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Holly Currie limited Jacksonville State to two hits over 5 1/3 innings and Anna Thompson saved her first career game as the Auburn softball team took a 1-0 decision over the Gamecocks Tuesday at University Field.
Currie struck out seven and walked four in shutting down the Gamecocks, improving to 4-4 this season. Thompson worked the final 1 2/3 innings, posting four strikeouts for the save.
"Holly started and worked well and Anna came in and really shut down the Gamecocks," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "This was a low scoring game and we were able to keep Jacksonville State off the scoreboard with two great pitching performances and solid defense."
The Tigers scored their only run of the game in the first on an error by the Jacksonville State first baseman, Nikki Prier. Lauren Walton walked with one out, then moved to second on an infield ground out by Currie. On the play, Prier attempted to throw behind Walton at second, but instead threw the ball errantly to the left field wall enabling Walton to score from second.
Walton had two infield singles to pace the Tigers, who finished with five hits against Jacksonville State starter Karla Pittman, who fell to 3-4 this season. She worked seven innings, striking out five while walking three.
The Tigers hit the road again Friday through Sunday at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament in Tampa, Fla. There, the Tigers will open with Utah (11 a.m. ET) and host South Florida (4 p.m. ET) on Friday. Other opponents in Tampa include Central Michigan, Maryland and New Mexico State.
Tiger Notes: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms for the games and are now 4-3 in them this season ... The game marked the final in the month of February for the Tigers ... The team finished the month having played 17 games ... Holly Currie's seven strikeouts gave her 698 for her career, putting her just two away from becoming the second Tiger in team history to reach 700 for their career ... Kristen Keyes struck out 727 from 2002-04 ... Sara Ghezzi extended her team-leading hit streak to seven games with a single up the middle in the first ... Ghezzi's career-high is a 10-gamer achieved in 2005 ... Tatiana Fernandez also extended her hit streak to six games with a single to right center in the sixth ... Lauren Walton posted her first walk of the season in the first, getting to first on a 3-2 pitch.