April 10, 2007
AUBURN - Anna Thompson struck out 12 and allowed just one South Alabama hit as the Auburn softball team defeated the Jaguars, 3-0, Tuesday night at Jane B. Moore Field.
Thompson's only blemish on the scoreboard came in the second when former Tiger Tara Donaldson hit a flair to right field. Thompson did not allow a runner to reach base after the fourth inning, a frame in which she issued a walk and hit a batter. Thompson, however, did not allow a runner to get past second base.
Her 12-strikeout performance marked her 10th double-digit strikeout effort of the season, giving her 230 strikeouts on the year. Thompson improved to 11-11 this season.
"She kept them off balance and really had a solid outing," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said of Thompson, who threw her third complete-game shutout of the season. "She did not make any mistakes and got out of the only inning she really got into trouble. It was a great way to get her back on track."
Auburn (19-25 overall) cemented its 3-0 win by using a pair of sacrifice flies and by capitalizing on a South Alabama error. Tatiana Fernandez drove in the game's first run on a deep sacrifice fly to center in the second inning, which brought Ashley Arcuri in from third. A batter later, Sara Ghezzi hit a sharp ground ball to South Alabama first baseman Corey Race, who could not handle it cleanly. That allowed Lauren Walton to come around from second for a 2-0 lead.
Ghezzi put the Tigers up 3-0 in the fifth on her fifth career sac fly. She drove in Walton, who paced the Tiger offense with a 2-for-3 effort.
Amanda Leggett took the loss for the Jaguars (27-15) after allowing seven hits and three runs in a four-inning relief effort. She dropped to 4-3 this season.
The Tigers take the rest of the week off before returning to Jane B. Moore Field for a three-game series with Florida Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is designated as StrikeOut Cancer Day, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The first 250 fans at Jane B. Moore Field will receive commemorative lunch coolers, while fans can also donate per strikeout.
Tiger Notes: Myesha Finney was hit by a pitch in the second, which gives her 17 this season and extends her Auburn single-season record ... It also gives her 26 for her career, which ties Ashley Moore (1999-2002) for most in an Auburn uniform.