Feb. 23, 2011
Auburn, Ala. - Amber Harrison's two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a tie game and propelled the Auburn softball team to a 4-2 victory over Georgia State Wednesday night at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn improved to 10-0 for the first time in program history. Georgia State dropped to 5-6.
"We just keep battling and finding ways to win games," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We are taking it one game at a time and staying focused on what is in front of us. This was a good win, but now we have to look at what is ahead and the teams coming in town this weekend."
Auburn hosts the War Eagle Invitational this weekend with Belmont, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Murray State and Middle Tennessee participating. Auburn opens play with two games Friday. The Tigers play Georgia Southern at 12:30 p.m. and Belmont at 3 p.m.
Lauren Schmalz earned the win in relief to improve to 5-0. Schmalz pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on three hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. Angel Bunner started and pitched the initial 3.1 innings, scattering four hits and walking one with four strikeouts.
Alana Thomas (1-3) took the loss in relief. Thomas allowed three runs, all earned, on two hits with a pair of walks in just two-thirds of an inning of work. McCall Langford started and went 5.0 innings, allowing one run, earned, on two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
The Tigers grabbed an early 1-0 lead as Kelsey Cartwright doubled home Lauren Guzman with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Guzman drew a one-out walk and stole second to move into scoring position. After the second out of the inning, Cartwright ripped her third double of the season to plate Guzman.
Georgia State tied the game in the fifth inning. Jessica Clifton singled to open the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. A sac bunt by Whitney Phillips moved Clifton to third. Lauren Jones followed with a bunt just between third and the pitcher's circle that scored Clifton on the squeeze play to make it 1-1.
After allowing a run in the first and a leadoff single in the second inning, Langford settled in and held the Tigers in check. Auburn was retired in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Langford was lifted to open the bottom of the sixth inning for Thomas who retired the first two batters.
The Tigers broke the sting of retired batters with a pair of two-out walks in the sixth. Elizabeth Eisterhold walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Caitlin Stangl pinch-ran for Eisterhold and Cartwright was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second.
Amber Harrison then laced a ball down the line in left to score both runners and give the Tigers a 3-1 lead. A wild pitch moved Harrison to third and Kyndall White drove her home with a sharp double to the wall in center to make it a 4-1 game and capped the Auburn rally.
Georgia State pushed a run across in the top of the seventh on a triple by Clifton. It scored Brenna Morrissey who pinch-hit and reached on a leadoff walk. Schmalz would leave Clifton stranded at third, however, as she retired the next three hitters to end the game.