April 5, 2013
Auburn, Ala. - Branndi Melero's second-inning grand slam broke open a one-run game and propelled the Auburn softball team to a 9-0 victory in six innings over Ole Miss in the Friday night series opener.
Auburn improved to 24-14 overall and 5-8 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss fell to 19-22 overall and 1-12 in the SEC. The Tigers and Rebels continue the series with a 6 p.m. game Saturday.
"We got off to a good start tonight," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We scored in the first inning and then had the big inning in the second with Branndi's grand slam. That made it really easy for Marcy (Harper). Pitching with a lead really allows you to do more and you feel a little more confident. We're going to have to come out with a lot of energy tomorrow night because Ole Miss certainly will."
Marcy Harper improved to 13-6 with a complete-game shutout, her first shutout in SEC play. Harper scattered three hits, walked two and struck out four in six innings.
Carly Hummel started and took the loss to fall to 8-13. Hummel allowed nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Auburn took an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to center by Brooke Lathan in the bottom of the first. Morgan Estell was hit by a pitch to open the inning and took second on a single by Branndi Melero. Melero was forced out, however, on a fielder's choice ground ball by Emily Carosone. After Carosone stole second to put runners at third and second, Lathan followed with sac fly for her 33rd RBI of the season.
The Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Melero crushed a grand slam over the wall in center for a 5-0 Auburn lead. It was Melero's eighth home run of the season, her second grand slam of the season and her 12th career home run. McKenzie Kilpatrick (walk), Tiffany Howard (walk) and Estell (single) all scored on the play.
A two-out error by Ole Miss right fielder Natalie Nimmo gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. With Kilpatrick at first and two down, Harper lofted a fly ball to shallow right that Nimmo failed to catch, allowing it drop and roll past her. Kilpatrick, running all the way, scored easily for the Tigers' sixth run of the game.
Auburn scored for the fourth consecutive inning when Carosone gave the Tigers a 7-0 edge in the bottom of fourth with an RBI single that plated Estell (single).
After allowing batters to reach base in each of the three innings, Harper settled into a groove and allowed just one batter reach over the next three innings.
The Tigers ended the game in the bottom of the sixth on the eight-run mercy rule. After the first two batters were retired, Carosone singled to center and was followed by Brooke Lathan who drilled a home run off the scoreboard in left-center. It was Lathan's third home run of the season and it ended the game at 9-0.