March 10, 2013
Auburn, Ala. - Despite getting only one hit the fourth-ranked Florida Gators earned a series win with a 2-0 victory over the Auburn softball team Sunday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn's record dropped to 18-7 overall, 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida improved to 25-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC. The Tigers return to action Tuesday with a 2 p.m. CT game at Tennessee State.
"I thought Lexi (Davis) did a really good job today," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "To only give up one hit to this lineup is a positive step forward for her. Even after she gave up the home run she bounced back and got the next three hitters. Offensively, we had some chances but just couldn't get that hit when we needed it. We're going to learn from this and get ready for the next one."
Lexi Davis took the loss to fall to 5-3 in a complete-game effort. Davis allowed two runs, both earned, on one hit with four walks, four strikeouts and two hit batters.
Hannah Rogers improved to 13-2 with a complete-game win. Rogers scattered three hits, walked three and struck out two.
The Gators took a 1-0 lead with a leadoff home run from Taylore Fuller in the top of the third inning. It was Fuller's first home run of the season and it came on the first pitch of the inning from Davis. The Gators would only get the one run, however, as Davis recovered and retired the next three hitters to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Florida put the first two batters on base as Lauren Haeger walked and Briana Little was hit by a pitch on 3-2. A sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Horton moved the runners up to third and second with one out. Jessica Damico then hit a sac fly to left that Tiffany Howard caught and fired quickly to home, but Haeger was able to slide past the tag of catcher McKenzie Kilpatrick to score and give the Gators a 2-0 edge.
While the Tigers managed to put the leadoff batter on in the second and third innings, they were unable to push a run across.
Auburn mounted its best scoring threat in the bottom of fifth. The Tigers put a runner on for the fourth straight inning when Caitlin Schultze drew a one-out walk. Schultze was lifted for pinch-runner Baylee Stephens. Caitlin Jordan followed with a single back up the middle to move Stephens to second. After Maris Medina was put in to run for Jordan, Kelsey Bogaards hit a short pop up to Kelsey Stewart at second who caught the ball and fired to first to double-off Medina and end the inning.
The Tigers again put the first two batters on in the bottom of the sixth. Morgan Estell took a leadoff walk and advanced to second when Howard's ground ball was booted by shortstop Katie Medina for an error. With runners at second and first, Rogers forced Branndi Melero to fly out to left for the first out of the inning.
A sac bunt by Emily Carosone moved the runners to third and second, but with two outs. Florida was able to end the scoring threat when Kilpatrick ground back to Rogers in the circle.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rogers retired leadoff batter Brooke Lathan on a ground out to second. Rogers then forced Stephens out on a ground ball to first for the second out. The Gators sealed the victory when Jordan fouled out to Jessica Damico in left field.