April 16, 2016
FAYETTVILLE, Ark. - A day after setting the school record for largest margin of victory in an SEC game, the No. 3/2 Tigers bettered that mark by two winning 23-0 (5) over Arkansas on Saturday at Bogle Park. Auburn also tied the school record winning their 15th-straight game.
The Tigers improve to 40-4 on the year and 11-3 in the SEC while capturing their fourth-straight conference series win. Arkansas moves to 17-27 on the year and 1-13 in league play.
"Games like today, it's pretty easy to coach," head coach Clint Myers said after the game. "Our team was up there today and they were really swinging the bat well. We had really good pitching in the circle and we're playing good defense behind it. And we were just consistent all the way around, great performance from our team today."
Senior Jade Rhodes went 5-for-5 in the game to set the school record for hits in a game. Rhodes contributed two home runs, three singles, six RBI and four runs scored in her dominant performance.
Freshman Makayla Martin (10-0) picked up the win for AU dishing out three strikeouts, allowing just two hits in 4.0 innings of work. Senior Lexi Davis closed the game throwing a perfect fifth inning with two strikeouts. No Razorback base runner reached third base in the game and no free passes were issued by the Auburn pitching staff.
Auburn batted around the lineup four out of the five innings played and scored a run during each inning of the game.
The Tigers got a quick start as they are accustomed to doing by taking advantage of three Arkansas miscues in the first inning to grab a hold of a 1-0 lead. Emily Carosone reached second base on an E7, and then scored on two wild pitches from the Razorbacks. Two RBI singles from Rhodes and Madi Gipson put Auburn in control 3-0 before the Razorbacks had a chance to bat.
Then the Tigers erupted for eight runs in the second frame with all the runs and seven hits coming with two outs. Kasey Cooper started the scoring barrage with a double and then added a pair of RBI on a single the next time she came around to conclude the scoring spree. The senior from Dothan, Ala. reached all four plate appearances going 3-for-3 with a walk and stolen base and two RBI.
Following Cooper's first at bat of the inning, Rhodes smacked had her second RBI single of the game before Gipson launched a three-run homer to clear the bases. Gipson enjoyed a career day going 3-for-4 in the game and driving in four RBI, tying her career high in both hits and RBI.
Sophomore Courtney Shea went back-to-back home runs with Gipson delivering her eighth home run of the year, and second of the series. Tiffany Howard added on an RBI single as the Tigers sent all nine batters to the plate for the second-straight frame, making it 11-0 after two innings.
Rhodes solo home run was the Tigers only hit in the third before piling on 10 runs in the fourth, and a single spot in the fifth, to post their 18th shutout, and 18th run-rule victory of the season.
Head coach Clint Myers emptied his bench during the route and the Tigers' pinch hitters went 4-for-6 scoring four times and driving in six RBI and leading the way during the big fourth inning. All 17 position players for the second straight game with 11 different Tigers contributing a hit, and 12 student-athletes driving in an RBI.
"It's not done, we still have to finish this thing," Myers said. "We'll go out there tomorrow and just stay within ourselves and focus on playing the game. Its just business as usual, go out there and be as consistent as possible."
UP NEXT
Auburn and Arkansas conclude the weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.