March 4, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. - The Auburn softball team split its final day of play Sunday at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament, defeating New Mexico State, 4-3, after falling to Maryland, 5-4.
The Tigers finished the tournament 3-2 and are now 11-11 overall this season.
"We played well this weekend," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We would have liked to pull out the win against Maryland, but we will use it as a learning experience as we prepare for the SEC. Next up is a tough Troy team that we will not take lightly."
In game two, the Tigers rapped out nine hits against two Maryland pitchers for the 4-3 win. Lindsey Harrelson, Lauren Walton and Tatiana Fernandez all had two hits in the win.
The Tigers broke the game open in the fifth, pushing two runs across the plate for a 4-1 lead. Walton began the inning with a double to right, then scored when Holly Currie singled up the middle. Three batters later, and with Myesha Finney pinch running at third, Nicole Russo flew out on a sacrifice fly to right.
Auburn opened the game's scoring with two runs in the fourth. Sara Ghezzi went the other way and hit her third home run of the season over the left field fence for the 1-0 lead. Ashley Arcuri drove in the game's second run with a double to the left center field gap.
New Mexico State managed solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Currie started the game and worked three scoreless innings, striking out one while walking three. She did not figure in the decision.
The win went to Anna Thompson, who worked the final 3 2/3 innings - the game ended with two outs in the seventh due to New Mexico State's travel plans - to improve to 6-6 this season. She struck out seven and walked one for the win.
In the first game, Maryland scored two runs in the fifth and seventh innings to take a 5-4 win over the Tigers, in a game that started Saturday but was delayed in the fifth inning due to rain.
Cloudy skies developed before the game Saturday and a light drizzle began midway through the game, eventually leading to the game being delayed. The game resumed Sunday under sunny skies.
Thompson started and worked 6 1/3 innings for the Tigers, taking the loss. She struck out 12 and walked two while giving up five runs - all earned.
Maryland starter Stacey Jennings worked 4 2/3 innings for the win. She allowed three runs and three hits to improve to 3-5 this season.
Once the game resumed Sunday, Maryland started the scoring quickly. The Terrapins, down 3-1 when the game resumed, tied it three batters in on a triple by Jenny Belak. The Tigers, however, answered back in the top of the sixth when Arcuri lined out to left, scoring Lindsey Harrelson from third.
The Terrapins went down with three strikeouts in the sixth, but back-to-back doubles in the seventh tied the game at four. Maryland then managed to get the bases loaded on a walk and hit by pitch before Jennifer Wellborn singled up the middle, ending the game.
The Tigers built the two-run lead on three hits off Jennings. Jorja Bell had singled home a run during Auburn's two-run second and Nicole Russo, pinch running for Ghezzi, scored on a wild pitch in the third to put the Tigers up two.
Amber Jackson, Maryland's first batter of the game, drove a home run down the right field line to put the Terrapins up, 1-0.
Thompson entered Sunday's resumption with seven strikeouts and a walk. The Terrapins, who had a runner on first and one out in the fifth when the game was delayed, managed just two hits of Thompson through the first 4 1/3 innings.
The Tigers next play Wednesday at Troy. The game begins at 6 p.m. CT. Catch live stats and live audio at www.auburntigers.com or on the radio at WZMG-AM (910).
Tiger Notes: The Tigers originally wore their blue uniforms Saturday, but opened Sunday's play in orange ... The Tigers are now 3-5 in their orange uniforms this season ... The first game was originally started on Saturday at 1:55 p.m. ET ... In the second game, Lindsey Harrelson batted first in the order for the first time this season ... The Tigers are now 1-9 in one-run games this season.