May 2, 2009
Auburn, Ala. - Auburn pitcher Anna Thompson struck out nine and senior Myesha Finney drove in three runs to lead the Tigers to a 6-1 win over No. 20 LSU in game two to earn a double-header split and clinch a berth in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Auburn moved to 29-25 overall and 9-18 in the SEC. LSU's record moved to 31-15-1 overall and 14-10-1 in the SEC. Even if Auburn should finish in a tie with Mississippi State after Sunday's games, the Tigers hold the tiebreaker over the Bulldogs by virtue of divisional record and will advance to the tournament.
"I'm very proud of the way our seniors came through for us today," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Myesha really came through for us, as did Anna. It was nice to be able to give Anna a lead to pitch with and she was able to relax and keep them off balance."
Thompson threw a complete game to move to 14-13 with the win. Thompson allowed one run, earned, on three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Brittany Mack took the loss to fall to 11-4. Mack gave up three runs, all unearned, on one hit in two-thirds of an inning of work. Casey Faile threw 2.1 innings, allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits. Kirsten Shortridge threw the final 3.0 innings allowing just one hit.
Auburn took advantage of an LSU error to plate the first run of the game. Finney walked and, with one out, came around to score when right fielder Rachel Mitchell allowed Tatiana Fernandez's fly ball to drop in. Finney's run made it 1-0 Auburn.
One out later, Elizabeth Eisterhold smoked a two-run home run to straight-away center to give Auburn a 3-0 lead. It was Eisterhold's seventh home run of the season.
Auburn made it a 4-0 game in the bottom of the second when Finney singled home Lauren Guzman from third. Guzman reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a ground out by Cassie Trosclair. Guzman then moved to third on a passed ball to set up Finney's two-out RBI.
In the fourth inning, Guzman walked and Trosclair singled to put two on with no outs. Finney then laced a double to score both runners and give Auburn a comfortable 6- lead.
The six runs was more than enough for Thompson, who fanned seven through the first three innings of play and did not allow a run until a leadoff home run in the seventh inning by Rachel Mitchell that accounted for the final 6-1 score.
In game one, LSU broke a tie game with two runs in the fifth and fought off an Auburn rally attempt for a 3-2 win.
Cody Trahan earned the win to move to 10-5. Trahan allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits in 7.0 innings. Trahan walked six and struck out three.
Jenee Loree took the loss to fall to 12-10. Loree gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a complete game effort.
LSU took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the third inning. Juliana Santos reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a two-out double off the wall in left-center by Rachel Mitchell.
The Tigers answered, however, in the bottom of the third inning. Cassie Trosclair doubled to open the inning and was followed by two quick outs. After Kyndall White drew a walk, Tatiana Fernandez doubled to drive Trosclair home and even the game at 1-1.
Auburn missed a scoring opportunity in the fourth inning. Taryn Gray singled and moved to second when Elizabeth Eisterhold drew a walk. Lauren Guzman moved the runners up with a sac bunt for the first out of the inning. Trosclair then flied out to left, with Gray appearing to score on the play. Gray, however, was called out for leaving third early and the inning ended with the score tied.
LSU broke the tie in the top of the fifth when Mitchell again delivered, this time a bases-loaded double to left. Kirsten Shortridge, who singled with one out, and Jazz Jackson, who was hit by a pitch, both scored on the play to give LSU a 3-1 lead.
Auburn cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lindsey Harrelson walked with one out and moved to second on a ground out by White. Fernandez then singled sharply down the line to right to score Harrelson and make it a one-run game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Trosclair walked to open the frame and moved to second on a sac bunt by Finney. A ground out by Harrelson moved Trosclair to third, but Trahan got White to pop out to third to end the game.