April 13, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" No. 3/2 Auburn softball used three home runs to defeat UAB 8-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Mary Bowers Field. Auburn improves to 38-4 on the year picking up their 13th straight win while the Blazers fall to 17-23.
Auburn outhit the Blazers 11-3 with four hits going for extra bases in the victory.
"We've been spending a lot of time working on getting quality pitches, and then getting quality swings," head coach Clint Myers said after the game. "We stayed patient today, got some pitches we can drive and made the most of it. This is a good sign, barreling a lot of balls, that we're moving in the right direction."
The Blazers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a pair of Tigers errors leading to an unearned run. The Tigers went the first 40 games of the season without a fielder making more than one miscue and have had two (Whitney Jordan, Emily Carosone) commit a pair of errors over the last two games.
Auburn answered immediately during the next frame with a Jade Rhodes' two-run blast giving the Tigers the lead back on her 14th homer of the year, making it 2-1 for the visiting squad. Rhodes went 2-for-4 in the game scoring both times she reached base.
The Tigers then went back-to-back with their homerun efforts in the third inning as seniors Emily Carosone and Kasey Cooper launched solo shots to lead off the frame. Auburn looked to play add on in the inning but were unable to lay down a pair of sacrifice bunts, rather popping out to the catcher both times.
A sacrifice fly from Carosone stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fourth for her second RBI of the game before three insurance runs in the fifth inning secured Auburn's ninth-straight win against the Blazers. Madi Gipson's two-RBI double started the scoring barrage and the sophomore took third on the throw. Pinch hitter Courtney Shea delivered a single to drive in pinch runner Morgan Podany and give the scoreboard the final tally.
Makayla Martin (9-0) started inside the circle going 4.1 innings and allowing just a single hit in her appearance. Senior Rachael Walters threw the next 1.1 innings allowing just a hit before the Tigers turned to Lexi Davis for a perfect seventh inning.
A season-high crowd for UAB of 1,104 were in attendance with many decked in Auburn colors.
"It's always nice to see our fans, Auburn fans, the orange and blue in the stands. It makes the kids smile. Our team really loves playing in front of our fans and whenever we get this chance, whether it is on the road or at home, we seem to do pretty well. Big thanks to all those fans who came out to watch us tonight."
Auburn is 9-1 in away games this season.
UP NEXT
Auburn heads to Fayetteville for a series against Arkansas (16-25, 1-11) April 15-17.