March 27, 2015
|
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The No. 8 Auburn softball team notched its 19th run-rule victory of the season Friday night, defeating No. 20 Missouri, 14-6 in five innings, to open its three-game series in Columbia, Mo. Auburn got a collective effort from its offense, having four multi-hit performances and a complete pitching performance from junior Lexi Davis.
Auburn continues its perfect start through the Southeastern Conference schedule, moving to 34-3 overall and 7-0 in conference. The win continues Auburn's best conference start in school history and is the team's 10th win in its last 11 games. Missouri falls to 21-6 on the season and 4-3 in the SEC.
Davis struggled at times through the five-inning game, fighting off multiple Missouri rallies. She ended up giving up five earned runs on six hits with six walks and only one strikeout, but got plenty of run-support from her teammates to notch her 15th win of the season.
At the plate, redshirt sophomore Haley Fagan led the way, going 4-for-4 with three RBI, two coming from a home run in the top of the fifth inning that helped give Auburn the eight-run lead it needed to put the run-rule into effect.
The four hits ties a career-high for Fagan, her third four-hit game going back to her time at South Alabama. The home run was her ninth of the season, breaking a five-game homerless streak she had coming in.
Emily Carosone, Jade Rhodes and Carlee Wallace also notched two hits in the victory, part of a 13-hit barrage the Tigers were able to put on the Missouri pitching staff. It was the fourth-most hits for Auburn in a game this season and second-most in conference play.
Auburn took the early lead in the game, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, but Missouri was able to cut it to 4-3 in the bottom half after a three-run home run by Amanda Sanchez.
Kirsten Mack hit Missouri's second three-run home run in the game in the third inning, but that was all Missouri could muster in the game as Davis limited their offense to just those two home runs with six hits.
All six of Missouri's runs came from three-run home runs hit by Sanchez and Kirsten Mack in the first and third innings, but Davis was able to limit Missouri's offense for the rest of the game
After the four-run first, Auburn put up a five-spot in the third with three coming off one of the craziest plays for Auburn softball to date.
With one out, Fagan and Jade Rhodes reached on singles to bring up Morgan Estell. Attempting to just move the runners over, Estell dropped a great sacrifice bunt right in front of home plate. The throw from Missouri's first baseman to try and get Estell was way off-line and rolled into the outfield for the error, allowing Fagan to score easily.
Rhodes scored as well with the throw from right field home not in time, pushing Auburn's lead to 6-3. With heads-up base-running, Estell attempted to reach second on the throw home. Looking to get Estell out at second, Missouri made its second error on the play as the throw from the catcher skied into the outfield.
Estell was able to race all the way around and score the play's third run, giving Auburn a 7-3 lead in the game. Estell finished the game just 1-for-1 with one run scored, one RBI and two walks.
Auburn added five more runs over the course of the final two innings of the game. One of the lasting blows coming from the two-run home run by Fagan in the fifth.
Auburn and Missouri will return to the field for game two of the series tomorrow with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network. Mark Neely and Jessica Mendoza will have the call.
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.