March 2, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. - The Auburn softball team rode a four-run first to a big offensive effort in a 9-1, five-inning victory over Utah at the Tigers' first game at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.
Auburn rapped out nine hits in the win, highlighted by Myesha Finney's 3 for 4 effort, including two doubles. Sara Ghezzi paced the team with three runs batted in, while Holly Currie had two as well.
"That was a big offensive day for us and a great way to start the tournament," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Holly came in and really kept the Utah offense down. Offensively, we got production from all three parts of the lineup. The top, middle and bottom of the lineup really came through today."
Auburn (9-9 overall) used Utah's miscues to its advantage early on, going up 4-0 after one inning.
The team's first four batters all reached base and eventually scored as Auburn took advantage of three Utah errors in the first inning. Finney to begin the game on an infield single, and moved up a base when Lauren Walton reached on an error. Currie then singled, driving in Finney, and eventually came around to score when Krista Klein reached on an error. Ghezzi scored the inning's final run on a wild pitch.
The Tigers scored another run in the second on a single by Ghezzi.
Auburn was able to mercy rule the Utes in the fifth after scoring four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Ghezzi finished the game with a single to left, bringing in Finney from third. The mercy rule effort marked the second time this season the Tiger offense enabled a game to end early.
Currie threw five innings for Auburn and improved to 5-4 this season. She struck out six and walked four. Currie became the second Tiger in team history to reach the 700-strikeout plateau, reaching the milestone in the second inning on a 1-2 pitch to Utah's Tori Medina.
Karina Cannon took the loss for Utah (9-7-1) and dropped to 2-3 this season. She worked 4 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking five.
Auburn continues with the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament Friday at 7 p.m. ET against host South Florida.
Tiger Notes: The Tigers wore their blue uniforms and improved to 5-3 in them this season ... The win marked the fourth straight season the Tigers opened the month of March with a victory ... Holly Currie is just the second Tiger with 700 or more strikeouts, following Kristen Keyes who struck out 727 from 2002-04.