April 10, 2015
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Three multi-hit performances from the middle of Auburn's lineup including a three-hit game from redshirt senior Morgan Estell, led the No. 6 Auburn softball team to an 8-1 win over No. 23 Texas A&M Friday night in College Station, Texas. The Tigers totaled 11 hits in the contest, the 22nd game this year with 10 hits or more.
Junior Rachael Walters held the Aggie hitters to only one run on three hits to garner her 14th win of the season. She allowed the only run in the bottom of the first inning, but went on to toss six scoreless innings after, stymieing the Aggie offense, allowing only eight base runners. It's only her third start of seven innings or more, but was her best outing of the three with the near shutout performance.
The win ups Auburn's record to 39-5 overall and 11-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while A&M falls to 31-11 on the year and 7-6 in the conference.
For Estell, she totaled her second three-hit game of the season, all from singles. Jade Rhodes and Jenna Abbott joined in the multi-hit club for the game, notching two hits each. Out of the 11 hits by the Tigers Friday night, only one went for extra bases off a Rhodes double in the third inning. It was also only the fifth game this year that Auburn did not tally a home run.
The Tigers scored five runs in the first inning to take a big lead over the Aggies, marking the 33rd time this season that Auburn scored in the first frame. All nine batters in the lineup came to the plate in the top of the first, six reaching base with one out.
Rhodes got the scoring started with a two RBI single through the left side, which was followed by Jenna Abbott's own two-run single to make it 4-0 Auburn. The fifth run of the inning came on a deep sacrifice fly by Carlee Wallace for the inning's second out and was the last run the Tigers brought across until the third inning. Â
A&M got one run back in the bottom half of the first on an RBI double by Ashley Walters, but it was the only offensive production it got all night as Rachael Walters only allowed four hits for the final six innings.
Two more runs crossed in the top of the third for Auburn to make it a nice 7-1 lead. Rhodes led off the inning with her double to put a runner in scoring position right away. Estell brought her home easily with her second single of the game, lacing, yet, another hit right up the middle. She later scored after reaching third on an Abbott single and then a double-play ball.
The Tigers got their final run of the game in the fifth inning as Estell finished her night with her third hit to lead off the inning. She eventually made it around to third on a groundout and a single by Courtney Shea. Auburn was able to get her home by way of a Texas A&M error, one of two Aggie errors in the game.
Auburn and Texas A&M will be back on the field Saturday for game two of the series with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU with Pam Ward and Cheri Kempf on the call. Auburn will be going for its fifth-straight conference series victory.
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.