Feb. 20, 2010
Auburn, Ala. - Caitlin Stangl's first home run of the season sparked a rally that gave the Auburn softball team a 6-2 win over Central Michigan after the Tigers out-dueled Nebraska in a 2-1 win over the Cornhuskers Saturday at the Tiger Invitational.
Auburn improved to 6-3 with the pair of wins and moved to 3-0 at the Tiger Invitational. Central Michigan fell to 0-3, while Nebraska dropped to 6-4.
"I'm really proud of our team for coming back against a tough Central Michigan team," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Our pitchers, Angel and Anna, really came through for us against Nebraska in a very close game that could have gone either way."
Angel Bunner (2-0) earned her second win of the day after going 3.1 innings in relief of starter Jenee Loree. Bunner scattered three hits and did not allow a run to score. Bunner struck out five and did not issue a walk.
CMU starter Kari Seddon (0-2) took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits in 5.0 IP.
Central Michigan took advantage of an Auburn error to plate the first run of the game. Brogan Darwin reached when Amber Harrison dropped the throw from second on her ground ball. Darwin moved to third when Kyndall White booted a ground ball at third allowing Summer Knoop to reach.
Amanda Patrick gave Central Michigan a 1-0 lead with a single to right that plated Darwin from third.
Auburn rallied in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of two Central Michigan errors. Centerfielder Amber Olejniczak dropped Kyndall White's line drive to open the inning and Harrison followed with a double to the wall in center.
White scored on the play to make it a 2-1 CMU lead, while Harrison advanced to third on the relay throw home. Stangl then uncorked a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
It was Stangl's first home run of the season and the first non-grand slam home run for the Tigers in 2010.
Still in the sixth, Lauren Guzman reached on a booted ground ball by the shortstop and came around to score on Lindsey Harrelson's double to center which made it 4-2 Auburn. The rally continued with a two run single by Kelley Smiley. Harrelson and Krista Clyde (infield single) scored to push the Auburn lead to 6-2.
Against Nebraska, Auburn pitchers Angel Bunner and Anna Thompson combined to lead the Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Corn Huskers on the second day of the Tiger Invitational.
Auburn improved to 5-3, while Nebraska dropped to 6-4.
Bunner (1-0) came in to relieve starter Lauren Schmalz who left due to injury after recording only one out in the game. Bunner answered the call by throwing 3.2 innings, allowing one run, unearned, on four hits. Bunner walked one and did not record a strikeout.
Anna Thompson threw the final 3.0 innings to earn her first save of the season. Thompson did not allow a hit and walked just two while registering seven strikeouts.
Robin Mackin (3-2) took the loss for Nebraska. Mackin went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Nebraska got on the scoreboard first. Heidi Foland led off the fourth inning with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Foland then came around to score on a single by Ashley Guile which gave Nebraska a 1-0 lead.
Auburn responded in the bottom half of the fourth with a lead-off single from Amber Harrison and a double by Kyndall White that put runners on second and third with no outs.
The Tigers plated their first run of the game when catcher Kirby Wright mishandled the relay after a swinging third strike and allowed the ball to roll to the wall, allowing Harrison to score from third and tie the game at 1-1.
White moved to third on the play and came in to score on a bunt single by Lauren Guzman, which gave Auburn a 2-1 lead.
Bunner was then relieved by Anna Thompson to start the fifth inning. Thompson made quick work of the Huskers, striking out seven of the 11 batters faced to seal the one-run victory for the Tigers.