March 18, 2009
Nashville, Tenn. - The Auburn softball team got a 10-0 win over Tennessee State and 4-0 win over Alabama State Wednesday afternoon to complete a six-day road trip with a clean sweep of Nashville.
Auburn improved to 23-9 overall with the two wins. The Tigers return to action March 28-29 with a three-game series against South Carolina at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn.
In game two, Holly Ragsdale held Alabama State to six hits, no runs, and struck out six to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Destinee Sanchez took the loss for Alabama State (5-10). Sanchez allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
The Tigers pushed across a run in the third inning. Taryn Gray singled to open the bottom half of the frame and moved to second on an illegal pitch. Gray advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sac fly to left by Alexa Martinez for a 1-0 Auburn lead.
Lindsey Harrelson gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff home run to left-center. It was Harrelson's second home run of the season and came on the first pitch of the inning.
In the fourth inning, Gray reached on a leadoff single and moved to third on a double down the left field line by Lauren Guzman. Alexa Martinez brought Gray home with a ground to second base for a 3-0 AU lead.
Cassie Trosclair followed with a walk and promptly stole second. On the throw, Guzman broke for home for a double steal and a 4-0 Auburn edge.
That would be all the Tigers needed as Ragsdale held the Hornets in check over the remaining three innings to preserve the victory for the Tigers.
In game one, Elizabeth Eisterhold drove in three runs to lead the Tigers to a 10-0 win over Tennessee State.
Jenee Loree (9-3) allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out two, to earn the win. Loree started and threw all five innings.
Caitlin Eaton (6-5) took the loss after giving up six runs, all earned, on eight hits with one walk in 4.0 innings of work.
Kyndall White gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI double down the left field line. Cassie Trosclair was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and then stole second to move into scoring position. White then took a 2-2 pitch down the line for the first run of the game.
With two outs in the third, Myesha Finney pushed the Auburn lead to 2-0 with a single through the left side that scored White. Elizabeth Eisterhold followed with a double up the middle to score Finney and give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Taryn Gray kept the inning going with a single to left-center that scored Eisterhold from second and made it a 4-0 game.
The Tigers increased their lead in the fourth. With two outs and White at second after singling and stealing second, Fernandez doubled to left to bring White home and give Auburn a 5-0 lead.
Eisterhold gave the Tigers a 6-0 edge in the fifth inning with a leadoff home run. It was Eisterhold's fourth home run of the season and first since Feb. 22, against Purdue.
Still in the fifth, Gray and Lauren Guzman walked to put runners at second and first. Alexa Martinez then put down a bunt, but the first baseman dropped the throw allowing Martinez to reach and Gray to score from second.
Guzman moved to third on the play. Martinez then stole second, but the catcher threw to third trying to get Guzman breaking for home. The throw was wild and sailed into left, allowing Guzman to score and give Auburn a 9-0 lead. The Tigers added another run in the inning when Eisterhold, who led off the inning, drew a bases loaded walk to score Trosclair for the 10-0 margin.