Feb. 22, 2013
Corpus Christi, Texas - The Auburn softball team split its first two games at the Grand Islanders Classic, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-4 and losing to Kansas 11-10.
Auburn's record moved to 11-3 with the split. The Tigers will play Southern University at 9 a.m. and New Mexico at 11 a.m. Saturday.
"It's mixed feelings after today with a really tough loss but then a good rebound win after that," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "The first game against Kansas was back-and-forth just like the first game against them, but this time they got the big hits when they needed it. It was good to see them players bounce back a little in the second game, but we need to keep that going into tomorrow."
In game two, Morgan Estell drove in two runs while Branndi Melero and Kelsey Bogaards each drove in a run as Auburn defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-4 in five innings. The game was called due to darkness as TAMCC does not have lights.
Marcy Harper started and improved to 4-1. Harper allowed four runs, all earned, on five hits with one strikeout in four and two-thirds innings. Hilary Mavromat earned her second save, registering one out and allowing one hit.
Bethany Slick took the loss to fall to 1-1. Slick allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits with two walks in one and one-third innings.
Branndi Melero gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the top of the third inning. Tiffany Howard singled to open the third and quickly stole second base. With one out Melero doubled to the gap in right-center to score Howard.
The Tigers added to their lead in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Kelsey Bogaards singled to shallow right to score pinch-runner Kristyn Richards, who ran for Caitlin Schultze (walk), to give Auburn a 2-0 lead. After the second out of the inning, Morgan Estell singled to center to score Jade Rhodes, who pinch-ran for Austyn West (fielder's choice) and Bogaards to make it a 4-0 lead.
Melero then hit a chopper that second baseman Hayley Galloway fielded, but threw wildly to first for an error, which allowed Tiffany Howard (fielder's choice) and Estell to score, giving the Tigers a 6-0 lead.
The Islanders got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Meagan McKinney singled in the hole to shortstop driving in Dani Tefft (single) from third to make it 6-1.Valerie Perez followed with a double to right that scored Mickayla Cochran (fielder's choice) to cut the deficit to 6-2.
With runners at second and third, Mavromat was put in to pitch and gave up a single to center by Jamise Jackson which scored McKinney and Perez to make it a 6-4 game. That would be all the Islanders would score in the inning as Mavromat forced a ground out to end the inning.
At that point, the game was called complete due to darkness.