Feb. 5, 2015
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AUBURN, Ala. - The first inning took nearly an hour and 14 runs came across the plate before the scoreboard ever saw the second inning, but the Auburn softball team made up for it in the remaining portion of the game as it defeated Troy in its 2015 season-opener, 15-5, in five innings Thursday night at Jane B. Moore Field.
It was a chilly night for a softball opener, but 845 fans still braved the elements to see the Tigers open year two under head coach Clint Myers in style, scoring 10 runs in the first inning to take control of a what looked like might be a roller coaster of a game.
This win was much different from what Myers saw in his season-opener last season against the same Troy team. It wasn't a tie and Myers made sure of that.
"It feels good to get any win," Myers said. "They all feel good. The nicest thing about it is that we gave up four in the first and then answered back with 10. That says a lot about character. We talk about it being really important to answer back. If you can come back and answer with more than what they score, then you are making a statement back to them. The things we have talked about in the last 30 days, you saw a lot of it tonight. We were pleased with the offense."
Junior Lexi Davis got the start for the Tigers and took a while to settle down, giving up four runs in the first frame. But, her teammates gave her plenty of run support in the bottom half of the inning, putting up a 10 spot after jumping on Troy starter Jaycee Affeldt for four-straight hits before she got pulled.
Auburn went on to score five-straight runs to take the lead in the first, batting eight times before Troy recorded their first out.
After the Tigers batted around, Carosone came up for her second at-bat of the inning and delivered the big blow that put the game out of reach. With bases loaded, the Orlando-native skyrocketed a pitch to straight-away centerfield to score four runs the easy way and give Auburn the 10-4 lead after one.
Davis settled down quite well in the circle after the long first inning, allowing only one base runner over the next two innings before letting junior Rachael Walters take over in the fourth. Davis finished with four earned runs, two strikeouts and two walks.
"Whether it is the first game jitters or if it is a situation that she missed her spots or whatever it was, Lexi got the ball because the fact that she pitched well in the fall and has really done a great job," Myers said. "She will get the ball again the rest of this weekend and you will see her pitching well."
Walters, a transfer from Radford, looked comfortable in her first outing in the Orange and Blue, going two innings to finish the game, giving up the lone run in the fifth and only one hit with three strikeouts.
Auburn added two more runs in the second to take a commanding 12-4 lead and capped its big offensive outing in the third getting back-to-back home runs from redshirt sophomore Haley Fagan and junior Jade Rhodes to take the final 15-5 lead.
The Tigers return to the field tomorrow at Jane B. Moore Field as they begin the Plainsman Invite, facing UAB at 7 p.m. Friday's game will be available online on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app or WatchESPN.com.
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.