March 19, 2016
STARKVILLE, Miss -- A wild pitch allowed Kasey Cooper to score from third base and gave the No. 3 Tigers (25-3, 2-2) a 3-2 win over Mississippi State in the longest game in Auburn softball history, lasting 14 innings and 4:45.
The storyline of the game was dominant pitching performances by both teams in the circle. Auburn's Kaylee Carlson tossed 10.0 innings of relief duty improving to 6-0 on the year while also setting a career high with 12 strikeouts. The sophomore from Garden Grove, Calif. retired the first 16 batters she faced, allowed only three hits and kept the Tigers in the game until they could gather the tying run in sixth.
Mississippi State's (18-7, 0-1) Alexis Silkwood lasted 13.1 innings for the home Bulldogs and totaled 216 pitches during her efforts.
The Tigers and Bulldogs were deadlocked at 2-2 for seven innings before Cooper led off the final frame with a double. A pop fly from Carlee Wallace allowed Cooper to tag from second and score the game's winning run on the miscue from MSU's reliever Regan Green.
Auburn had an early lead after an RBI single by Jade Rhodes in the first inning to score Cooper from second base. Rhodes ended up tying the game in the sixth inning launching a home run off the scoreboard for her eighth long ball of the year.
Mississippi State took the lead from the Tigers in the third inning using a pair of sacrifice bunts to move the runners around and scored the tying run and then a single from Caroline Seitz to take a 2-1 lead.
Makayla Martin started inside the circle for the Tigers and went 4.0 innings throwing three strikeouts and three walks, while allowing a pair of run and getting the no decision.
Four of the six hits by the Bulldogs in the game were infield singles as the Tigers did not allow any extra base hit in the marathon game.
The previous record for longest games in Auburn history was 13 innings (W, 9-8 vs. Ole Miss 2009; W, 5-4 vs. Florida State 2000).
The Tigers improved to 2-0 in extra inning games this season with the win.
UP NEXT
Auburn and Mississippi State will play again on Saturday at 2 p.m. with Sunday's game set for 11:30 a.m.