Feb. 19, 2011
Auburn, Ala. - Elizabeth Eisterhold's three-run home run propelled the Auburn softball team to an 8-1 victory over Western Illinois Saturday in the second day of the Tiger Invitational. Auburn concludes play in the tournament Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Western Carolina.
Auburn improved to 8-0 with the victory while Western Illinois dropped to 1-7.
Lauren Schmalz improved to 4-0 with a complete-game effort for Auburn. Schmalz allowed one run, earned, on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
Kesley Michelini took the loss for Western Illinois after allowing six runs, all earned, on four hits with three walks and no strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
Western Illinois jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Beth Golitko doubled to left after the first two batters of the inning were retired. Kelsey Michelini followed with a double to right that plated Golitko for the first run of the game.
The Tigers quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Lauren Guzman singled to center and stole second. The throw to second on the steal sailed wide and into center, allowing Guzman to reach third. An illegal pitch to Kelsey Cartwright plated Guzman to even the game 1-1.
Cartwright then laced a double to left-center and was followed by Amber Harrison who drew a walk. Eisterhold followed with a towering home run to left that gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead. It was Eisterhold's second home run of the season and the 20th of her career.
Auburn extended its lead in the second inning. Katie Colton drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single by Kyndall White. A wild pitch moved the runners to third and second. With one out, Guzman drew a walk to load the bases. Morgan Estell was hit by a pitch to force Colton home and give Auburn a 5-1 lead.
With the bases still loaded, Cartwright lofted a sac fly to center that scored White to make it a 6-1 game.
Kelley Smiley gave the Tigers a 7-1 lead in the sixth inning with a two-out single to center that plated White from second base. White walked with two down and moved to second on a wild pitch to move into scoring position.
Smiley took second on the throw home and later moved to third on a passed ball. Guzman then delivered a single down the first base line to score Smiley and give Auburn an 8-1 lead. Maris Medina followed that with a single through the right side for a hit in her first collegiate at-bat, but the Tigers would not add to their lead.
After allowing a run on two hits in the first inning, Schmalz settled into a groove and scattered five hits over the next six innings of work to notch her fourth win and keep the Tigers unbeaten this season.