Tiger Softball Takes Championship With Run-Rule Win Over USF

Feb. 22, 2015

Auburn
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Feb. 22, 2014
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USF Bulls
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#16 Auburn Tigers
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USF
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TAMPA, Fla. - With a two home run game from sophomore Kasey Cooper, the 16th-ranked Auburn Tiger softball team defeated USF, 8-0, in five innings Sunday to win the USF Wilson/DeMarini Classic. Cooper finished the game 2-for-2 with six RBI, a new season-high and is the second two home run game of her career.

The win moves Auburn's record to 17-1 as it bounced back from a Friday loss to Dartmouth to win four-straight games and come away with the title.

"Our first game this weekend was not played well," Auburn head coach Clint Myers said. "We learned from it. We came back and battled and played a lot better softball the rest of the tournament. We got better pitching and more timely hitting. It was exciting to watch them finish the tournament the way they did. We're moving in the right direction."

Auburn tallied 10 hits in the win, with Cooper, Tiffany Howard, Haley Fagan and Carlee Wallace all notching two hits each. It's also the ninth game this year that Auburn has had 10 or more hits in a game.

As for Cooper, her six RBI-game is the second most RBI in a game for the sophomore's career and her home runs break a seven-game homerless streak she had coming into Sunday. The second home run came in the form of a grand slam, her first of the season and the sixth for Auburn as a team this year.

The run-rule win was the Tigers' 13th run-rule victory this season and first of this weekend's tournament. In each of those victories, Auburn has hit at least one home run. With Cooper's two long balls, the Tigers have hit 36 home runs this season, still the most of any SEC team.

With the potent offense Sunday, hidden in the box score was the stellar complete game performance from junior Lexi Davis. Going five strong innings, Davis only gave up only four hits, while walking only one and striking out five. For Davis, it's her eighth win of the season as she remains undefeated, winning eight of her nine starts this year.

Auburn didn't take long to get on the scoreboard, as Cooper hit her first of two home runs in the first inning. A two-run bomb that cleared the left-center field wall, giving the Tigers the 2-0 lead. Auburn loaded the bases later in the inning with a chance to add more, but were unable to do so.

Going scoreless in the second, the Tiger defense continued to hold strong and Davis remained steady in the circle and the Tigers helped in the run support, scoring six in the third inning.

Auburn batted around in the third frame, bringing 10 batters to the plate and only needing four hits to do so. All six of the runs were scored with two outs, four off a grand slam by Cooper.

Fagan and Wallace led off the inning with singles, followed by a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Jade Rhodes to move the runners into scoring position. After her two home run day on Saturday, Morgan Estell was intentionally walked to load the bases, forcing Coach Myers to make a pinch hit decision.

McKenzie Kilaptrick was brought on to pinch hit in the nine-spot for Kelsey Bogaards and grounded out to the pitcher causing the force out at home for the inning's second out.

Howard, who already had a double in the game, hit her second double in as many at-bats, missing her first career home run by a few feet. The two-bagger brought two runs home to push Auburn's lead to 4-0. Howard finished the day 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI, her fourth multi-home run game of the season.

Junior Emily Carosone walked in the next at-bat, which loaded the bases for Cooper. Before Cooper reached the batter's box, USF made a pitching change, but it made no difference as Cooper delivered a rocket well over the centerfield wall.

Auburn will return to the home field next weekend when it hosts its final home non-conference tournament of the year, the Wilson/DeMarini Classic. Auburn's first game will come against Texas State on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be televised online only on SEC Network+, which is available only on WatchESPN.com or the Watch ESPN app.

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.