Feb. 12, 2015
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 Statistics | 2015 Schedule | Auburn Softball Tickets | SEC Network+ Replay | Tiger Invitational Schedule |
AUBURN, Ala. - Kicking off the Tiger Invitational Thursday night at Jane B. Moore Field, the Auburn Tiger softball team was looking to continue its undefeated streak to start the season and did so with a 7-3 win over Mercer and a 20-8 win in five innings over Georgia State.
The local weather in the Auburn area saw the temperature dip down into the low 30s, but the Auburn bats continued its torrid start to the year, racking up a combined 23 hits over the two games and scoring 13 runs in the first inning alone.
Overall, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 48-10 in the first inning and have scored seven or more runs in each of its first eight games.
Auburn scored all of its seven runs in the first inning against the Bears and then held on with a solid six inning performance in the circle from starter Marcy Harper. Harper gave up only one earned run in the afternoon tilt, scattering three hits with two strikeouts, earning her third win of the season.
"Marcy pitched pretty well," Auburn head coach Clint Myers said. "She walked more people than normal, but it's early in the season. We are going to figure things out. We're also still working on pitches and pitch counts. There are a lot of things we still have to improve on and pitching is one of them, but I think we did a pretty good job when we had to."
As for the offense in game one, the Tigers hit three home runs, two in back-to-back fashion from senior McKenzie Kilpatrick and freshman Carlee Wallace. For Wallace, it was her first collegiate home run and was Kilpatrick's second of the year. Wallace finished as the big hitter in game one, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, all from the first inning long ball.
Senior Branndi Melero also hit her first home run of the young season in the first inning against Mercer. Melero took a 0-1 pitch and hit it high into deep right field. As the ball traveled, it looked as if it would fall short, but the wind seemed to pick up at the right time and carry it a few feet past the wall for a three-run homer.
The Bears didn't lay down after spotting the Tigers seven runs, scoring one in the third after an Emma Andrew double, who later scored after a pass ball and a groundout. Then, two runs in the fourth after the Auburn pitching had trouble finding the zone with two walks and a hit by pitch.
But that was all Mercer could muster as Harper shut down the Bear offense in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing only two runners to reach base.
Sophomore Jenna Abbott came into the circle to pitch the final inning of game one. After striking out the first batter she faced, she allowed two to reach off singles. Abbott was able to settle down and get the line out and ground out to end the game.
Game two against Georgia State had a little more fireworks and it all came, again, in the first inning. With Auburn batting first as the "visiting" team, the team jumped way out in front, scoring six runs on just two hits, benefitting from four walks, a pass ball and a wild pitch. After three runs had come home, there were still two aboard with two outs and freshman Courtney Shea at the plate.
Shea turned on an inside pitch from Chelsea Stanfield and belted her first collegiate home run over the right field wall, giving Auburn the big 6-0 lead after one half inning.
Georgia State answered back in the bottom half of the inning, jumping on starter Lexi Davis for six runs, three being earned off four hits to tie the game back up, but the junior settled down after that, allowing only one run over the next inning, which wasn't earned after an Auburn error in the field.
The Tigers provided plenty of run-support in game two, following up the six-run first with a four-run second and a six-run third. By the start of the fourth inning, the Tigers had a 16-7 lead and looked in position to take another win by way of run-rule.
Auburn finished with 15 hits in the contest with five players finishing with two or more hits. Melero went 3-for-3 in the game, notching six RBI, which is a new career-high for the California-native. Shea finished right behind her, going 2-for-2 with five RBI, a new season-high.
"Well we have to understand that a homerun is nothing more than a by-product of a good swing," Myers said. "Making good contact and getting people in from third base is crucial. We did a decent job again today of hitting the ball and scoring runners with two outs. When teams can score runs with two outs, it's huge. That says a lot about character."
After Davis was relieved from the circle in the third inning, junior Rachael Walters came in to finish the job as she shut down the Panthers, giving up only one earned run off the home run ball in the fifth inning along with six hits and striking out five. Walters is now 2-0 on the year as Thursday night was her first win out of the relief position.
Auburn will return to the field tomorrow when it faces Ball State on day two of the Tiger Invitational. First pitch is slated for 5:15 p.m. at Jane B. Moore Field. Tomorrow's game will not be broadcast on SEC Network+, but live stats will be provided on AuburnTigers.com.
Tomorrow's first game of the day will feature Winthrop and Eastern Illinois at 9:45 a.m., followed by Winthrop and Georgia State at 12:15 p.m. and Ball State-Georgia State at 2:45 p.m. Mercer and Eastern Illinois will be playing its' game at the Auburn City Softball Complex at 2:30 p.m.
Fans can order their tickets for this season online at AUBTix.com, over the phone by calling 1-855-282-2010 or in person by visiting the Auburn Arena Ticket Office, which is open 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Tickets are still available for the full season, pick-six mini-packs and individual games.
For more information on Auburn softball, visit AuburnTigers.com, follow the team on Twitter @Auburn_Softball or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnSoftball.