April 1, 2007
AUBURN - Sara Ghezzi went 3 for 3 with two doubles, a home run and a walk, but two LSU home runs proved to be the difference as the sixth-ranked Bayou Bengals took the series finale from Auburn softball, 5-2, Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field. The victory gave LSU a series sweep over Auburn after taking both games of a doubleheader Saturday.
On Sunday, Ghezzi tied a career-high with her three hits, doubling in the second and fourth innings before providing the Tigers with their only runs of the game in the sixth on her fifth home run of the season. With Tatiana Fernandez on first and one out, Ghezzi knocked a 1-1 pitch from LSU reliever Dani Hofer over the right field fence to pull Auburn within three, 5-2.
Ghezzi had a chance for more RBI in the seventh but was walked with runners on first and second with two outs in a Tiger rally. Hofer, however, got out of the jam with a bases-loaded, game-ending strikeout.
"Sara saw the ball well today," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Her doubles found both outfield gaps and she hit her home run perfectly."
LSU used home runs from Leslie Klein and Tayl'r Hollis in the third and fourth innings, respectively, for the 5-0 lead. Already up 1-0 in the third, Klein homered off Auburn (17-22 overall, 6-10 Southeastern Conference) starter Brittany Day, a two-run shot that gave LSU a 3-0 advantage.
Hollis made it two in two innings off Auburn reliever Holly Currie in the fourth. The two-run shot was her second of the season.
Hofer picked up the win for LSU (35-5, 10-2 SEC) after working six innings of relief. She replaced starter Emily Turner in the second and struck out nine while walking four. She allowed five hits and two runs to improve to 14-1 this season.
Day worked three innings before being replaced by Currie in the fourth. She dropped to 0-2 this season after scattering four runs and three hits with two strikeouts.
Ghezzi paced the Auburn offense with three hits while Currie and Fernandez finished with two apiece. Ashley Arcuri also had two walks in the loss.
Auburn gets out of SEC play Wednesday when it hosts Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. Admission is free.
Tiger Notes: Sara Ghezzi's sixth-inning home run was her first home run since March 10 against Kentucky ... It was also the team's 21st of the season and ninth at Jane B. Moore Field.