May 2, 2014
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - Sophomore Austyn West drove in the deciding runs with a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning as the No. 20 Auburn softball team beat South Carolina 5-3 in eight innings Friday night at Beckham Field.
Freshman Kasey Cooper hit a two-run home run to tie the game in the fifth and singled to start the game-winning rally in the eighth. Auburn won for the sixth consecutive time and won in extra innings for the first time this season to improve its record to 38-14 overall and 11-11 in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina fell to 33-19 and 9-13.
Cooper was 3-for-3 and has had three or more hits in eight games this season. She has 16 home runs, one shy of Auburn's single-season record.
Cooper led off the eighth with a base hit off reliever Nickie Blue. With one out, redshirt junior Morgan Estell walked. Madi Gipson's single loaded the bases. After sophomore Jade Rhodes struck out, West singled through the left side and Auburn led 5-3.
Auburn starter Lexi Davis pitched seven innings, giving up two earned runs on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout to get the win and improve to 19-9. Sophomore Marcy Harper closed it out in the eighth to earn her first save.
Sophomore Emily Carosone was 2-for-3 for Auburn with two runs scored and was hit by a pitch for the 29th time, an Auburn single-season record.
Auburn will try to clinch the series today at 3 p.m. Brit Bowen will be back on the radio call and can be heard on AuburnTigers.com and locally on WEGL 91.1. Live stats will also be available on AuburnTigers.com.
For more information on Auburn softball, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter @AuburnTigersSB or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSB.