FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - No. 3/2 Auburn softball trounced Arkansas 21-0 in a five-inning run-rule victory to open up the series Friday night at Bogle Park. Twelve different Tigers contributed a hit as Auburn played all 17 position players to pick up their 14th straight win.
Auburn improves to 39-4 overall and 10-3 in league play with their largest ever margin of victory in an SEC game.
"It's the little things in great games that make the difference, like being patient at the plate" head coach Clint Myers said after the game. "It was a great offensive night for us, we played great on defense and pitched well but we were really able to do all the little things well which matter a lot."
The Tigers displayed that patience batting around the lineup in the first inning drawing six walks from Arkansas (17-26, 1-12). Auburn also took advantage of two passed balls, two stolen bases and two more Razorbacks errors to take a commanding 6-0 lead right off the bat. Auburn needed only a single hit during the frame for the six spot coming on a two-out, two-RBI single from Whitney Jordan.
Jordan delivered the next big swing the following inning with a bases-loaded triple to give her five RBIs on the day, tying her career high RBI total with the fourth hit of the game to put Auburn ahead 9-0.
The Tigers faced 67 total pitches in the first inning compared to Auburn's staring pitcher Kaylee Carlson needing only seven to deal with her side of the lineup. Carlson threw an effective 3.0 innings improving to 12-0 in her 17th appearance of the season. Senior Marcy Harper pitched the final two innings allowing just one hit while tossing a pair of strikeouts.
Auburn added on four more runs in the fourth inning all with two outs. Senior Jenna Abbott struck her third home run of the season down the left-field line. Emily Carosone added a two-RBI single up the middle stretching the lead to 13-0.
Two grand slams in the fifth paved the way for the Tigers run-rule victory. Courtney Shea launched Auburn's seventh slam of the year and the sophomore catcher's seventh of the season. Freshman Morgan Podany hit her first collegiate homer in grand fashion five batters later.
"It was great to see production up and down our lineup. When our entire lineup is playing like that were tonight, watch out."
Auburn's bench went 5-for-7 in the game scoring eight runs.
The win was the Tigers' 17th shutout and 17th run-rule victory of the year.
UP NEXT
The series resumes on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Sunday's finale also set for 1 p.m.