April 15, 2007
AUBURN - The Auburn softball team split a Sunday doubleheader with Florida, defeating the Gators in Saturday's suspended game, 6-5, before dropping the series finale, 2-0, in eight innings.
Florida won the series after winning the first game Saturday, 3-0. Auburn now stands at 20-27 this season and 7-15 in Southeastern Conference play. The Gators, meanwhile, are 34-18 and 10-10 in the SEC.
Auburn began the day by taking Saturday's halted game in comeback fashion. Down 4-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers scored six runs over their final three frames for a 6-5 win.
Sara Ghezzi and Holly Currie reached on consecutive singles, and each moved up a base on a Florida error. The Tigers scored their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right by Myesha Finney.
With two outs and Krista Klein on to pinch run for Currie, Lindsey Harrelson walked and Brittany Scott singled. Ashley Arcuri then lined a double to the right center gap, clearing the bases and tying the game.
Florida took a 5-4 lead in the fifth, but saw the Tigers roar back in their half of the sixth. Brittany Scott evened the score with a triple down the left field line, bringing Nicole Russo in from first. Arcuri, the next batter, reached on a Florida throwing error, giving Auburn a 6-5 lead.
Scott paced the Tigers with two hits. Lauren Roussell and Melissa Zick had two apiece for the Gators.
"That's a great win," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We were not able to do much offensively Saturday, but focused and picked it up on Sunday. Ashley's double was timely and Brittany did a great job with the pitch she hit down the line."
Currie picked up the win after coming on in relief of Brittany Day in the fourth inning. Currie struck out four and walked three in 2 2/3 innings to improve to 8-11 this season. Anna Thompson came on in relief in the seventh for her third save of the season.
Stacey Stevens started for Florida and lasted five innings, scattering six hits and five runs. She walked three and struck out three but did not figure in the decision. The loss went to Stacey Nelson, who dropped to 20-11 after allowing a hit and an unearned run in the sixth inning.
Thompson struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings in game two, but gave up a two-run home run to Melissa Zick in the eighth for Florida's 2-0 victory.
The teams combined to leave 14 runners on base in the game as each had opportunities to take the game before going into the extra frame. Florida left the bases loaded in the first and third innings while the Tigers left runners on second and third in the sixth.
Nelson started and went the distance in the second game, striking out seven to improve to 21-11 this season. She scattered three hits after working the first five innings without allowing a hit.
Thompson, meanwhile, walked four and allowed eight hits in the loss. She allowed just two hits through the first five innings and four before going into extra innings.
Auburn gets into non-conference action against Alabama A&M Wednesday in a doubleheader at Jane B. Moore Field. The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
Tiger Notes: The win marked the first of the season for the Tigers against a club currently ranked in the top 25 of either poll ... The Gators are 22nd in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll ... The first game was originally started Saturday but had to be delayed due to lightning and rain in the Auburn area.