March 21, 2010
Baton Rouge, La. - Missed scoring opportunities and eight runners left on base cost the Auburn softball team as No. 14 LSU completed a series sweep of the Tigers with a 4-0 win in the series finale Sunday afternoon.
Auburn fell to 16-12 overall and 2-6 in the Southeastern Conference with the loss. LSU improved to 26-4 overall and 8-0 in league play.
Auburn starter Angel Bunner (6-5) took the loss after giving up four runs, one earned, on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
Fico (10-2) earned the win after throwing a complete game, 7.0 innings, and striking out five. Fico walked two batters.
Auburn was denied a run in the fourth inning. Caitlin Stangl single pass the shortstop to open the inning and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Krista Clyde. On a single to left by Amber Harrison, Stangl rounded third, but was thrown out at home by left fielder Rachel Mitchell.
LSU broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rachel Mitchell doubled to left and moved to third on a single by Anissa Young. Courtney Hollier then brought Mitchell home with a sac fly to center to give LSU a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, a single by Stangl, walk to Harrison and single by Elizabeth Eisterhold loaded the bases for Auburn with only one out. But, Fico got consecutive pop ups by Kelsey Cartwright and Aurora Salter to end the inning without a run scoring.
LSU increased its lead in the bottom half of the sixth when Ashley Applegate doubled to shallow right to score Kirsten Shortridge from second. Shortridge reached on an error and scored to make it 2-0. Mitchell then followed with a two-run home run that cleared the wall in center to give LSU a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Lauren Guzman doubled with one out and was followed an out later by Stangl who was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Tigers. But Clyde hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Stangl out at second, to end the game.