March 9, 2013
Auburn, Ala. - McKenzie Kilpatrick's leadoff home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth inning broke a tie game and lifted the Auburn softball team to a 5-4 win over No. 4 Florida Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn improved to 18-6 overall, 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Florida dropped to 24-2 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
"I'm really proud of this team's resiliency and the fight they showed today," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "After last night's game they could have easily folded today, but they came out aggressive and playing with a purpose. We need to put this one behind us now and get ready for tomorrow's game."
The win marked Auburn's first over a ranked SEC team at Jane B. Moore Field since a 3-2 win over No. 4 Georgia on May 1, 2011.
Marcy Harper improved to 8-2 with a complete-game victory. Harper allowed four runs, all earned, on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Hannah Rogers took the loss in relief to fall to 12-2. Rogers allowed one run, earned, on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Lauren Haeger started and went four innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
The Gators plated a run in the top of the first inning without benefit of a hit. Kelsey Stewart drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when Kirsti Merritt was hit by a pitch. After a pop up for the first out, Stewart stole third. With runners on the corners, Merritt broke for second but was chased back to first by Kelsey Bogaards after the throw down from catcher McKenzie Kilpatrick. Stewart broke for home on the play and scored easily to make it 1-0 Florida.
Auburn tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Tiffany Howard reached on a fielder's choice and Branndi Melero singled to put runners at second and first with one out. After Haeger fanned Brooke Lathan for the second out, Emily Carosone laced a double to center to score Howard and even the score at 1-1.
Florida regained the lead in the top of the third inning. Stewart singled with one out and took second on a two-out walk to Haeger. On a 2-2 pitch, Briana Little ripped a three-run home run over the scoreboard to give the Gators a 4-1 lead. It was Little's fifth home run of the season and the third Florida home run of the series.
The Tigers cut the Florida lead in half with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Carosone drew a one-out walk and took second on a wild pitch. An errant throw from catcher Aubree Munro moved Carosone to third with two outs. Caitlin Jordan followed with a walk. Kilpatrick then took an 0-2 pitch back up the middle to score Carosone and cut the deficit to 4-2. With Kristyn Richards running for Jordan, a wild pitch moved her to third and Kilpatrick to second. The Gators were able to end the rally when left fielder Little made a diving catch in foul territory on a ball hit by Bogaards.
Auburn picked up in the bottom of the fifth where it left off in the bottom of the fourth. Estell led off with a single and moved to third on a double to left by Howard. Melero followed with a single through the right side to plate Estell and make it a 4-3 game. Rogers relieved Haeger and gave up a sacrifice fly from Lathan which scored Howard to tie the game at 4-4. Melero took second on the play to move into scoring position.
On a 2-2 count, Rogers hit Carosone to put runners at second and first with one out. Caitlin Schultze then hit into a fielder's choice which forced Melero out a third. Rogers then ended the Auburn rally with a called third strike on Jordan on a 3-2 pitch.
On the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth, Kilpatrick gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead with a solo home run over the wall in left. It was Kilpatrick's second home run of the season and third of her career.
In the top of the seventh, Harper retired pinch-hitter Ensley Gammel on fly ball to right for the first out of the inning. The Gators put the tying run on base when Stewart drew a five-pitch walk. The Tigers picked up the second out when Merritt hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Stewart out at second base. Haeger came to the plate with a team-best seven home runs and the tying run at first base. Merritt moved into scoring position on a passed ball on a 2-2 pitch to Haeger. But Harper slammed the door on a potential rally when she forced Haeger to fly out to Melero in right for the final out.