April 25, 2015
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AUBURN, Ala. -- Junior Jade Rhodes tied the Auburn single-season home run record with her 18thhome run of the season Saturday as the Auburn softball team topped the Arkansas Razorbacks 10-1 in five innings at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn (43-8, 15-5 SEC) scored in four of five innings played on the way to its 22nd run-rule victory of the year. The Tigers also surpassed last year's win total of 42, garnering the second-most wins in a season in Auburn history. The total only trails the 50 wins notched in the 2005 season.
"The key thing is we are getting ready for post-season," Auburn head coach Clint Myers said. "We have to go out and play well. It is not about who is in the dugout, it is about how we play, how we attack the game and do the things we need to do."
Junior Lexi Davis pitched her fourth complete game of the year, giving up just one run on only two hits. The win moves her to 19-2 on the season, which still leads the team.
Auburn took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off of a Branndi Melero single to right and a Morgan Estell sacrifice fly to left field.
The Tigers extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third off of another Melero hit, this time a double, followed by an Estell single. Melero and Estell each finished the game with two RBIs apiece.
Arkansas (15-32, 1-19 SEC) answered with a run of their own in the top of the fifth as Jessica Harrison singled up the middle to bring the score to 3-1.
But an Emily Carosone double and a two-run home run from Kasey Cooper pushed the Tiger lead to 7-1, well out of reach of the Razorbacks and just short of the eight-run lead needed for the run-rule.
Cooper's home run, at the time, tied her for the team-lead in home runs at 17, but that was an inning before Rhodes' blast made her the new leader at 18.
Rhodes then tied the record in the bottom of the fifth inning, hitting her 18th home run of the season and giving Auburn an 8-1 lead.
"I hope Jade Rhodes breaks the record. She is having a great year and you look at what she is doing now," Myers said. "I am very excited for her. Like I said, I hope she breaks it. We are going to need the runs."
Cooper finished the game off in style, however, sealing the victory for the Tigers with a double to center field to secure the 10-1 win.
Auburn's next game and final home game of the regular-season will be tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m. The game can be seen on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. Sunday's game will also be Senior Day for Morgan Estell, McKenzie Kilpatrick and Branndi Melero. All three seniors will be honored at the conclusion of Sunday's game.
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.