May 7, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬- Emily Carosone set the school record for hits with a single in the second inning, was hit twice to extend her school record for hit-by-record and, for good measure, received a standing ovation for another part of the game in the sixth.
Carosone drove in three and made a diving catch to the delight of Auburn fans Saturday in Jane B. Moore Field on her record-breaking day. Texas A&M won 13-6 in the next-to-last regular-season game of the season that may deny Auburn a first-round bye in next week's SEC Tournament
Carosone tied the school hit record held by Ashley Moore and Morgan Estell in the first, then broke it an inning later.
She was also hit by a pitch for the 78th and 79th time, also a school record, though that's still short of the national record.
"Oh, dang," Carosone joked.
Auburn was already down 13-6 when she made her diving play.
"I was just trying to pick up our pitchers and our hitting, trying to have good defense all around. I want the pitchers to know that when they get the ball on the right side of the field, me and Jade (Rhodes) are going to catch the ball and get the job done."
No. 17 Texas A&M improved to 37-16 overall and 9-14 in the SEC. Auburn lost its fourth straight to fall to 45-9 overall and 15-7 in the league.
Coach Clint Myers said the loss was not for lack of effort, including Kelsey Bogaards, who missed the first 53 games following knee surgery, but showed appeared in Game 54 Saturday.
"Pride's at stake now. You can't question the character," Myers said. "We're down by seven runs and they're diving" to make plays. "We get a girl who is playing in her first game this year and she's busting it and trying the best she can to catch a foul ball. Jade (Rhodes) is going down the other line.
"We had some good at-bats. We're hitting the ball hard. But good teams make their own luck, and right now, we're just not doing it.
"Is this still a good ball club? Yes. Are we still the defending SEC champs? Yes. We've just got to figure some stuff out. I'm sure it's going to turn around. These people don't quit."
Myers said Bogaards, a senior, wanted to finish her career on the field, not on the disabled list.
"Kelsey is going to be a nurse. That's what she wants," Myers said. "She said all along, 'If I can get well and come back, I want to play now.' You've got to love that kind of attitude. She worked really hard to come back, and when you have a kid that worked that hard to get back, she deserves that opportunity."
Carosone said Auburn will look to finish strong in Sunday's 1 p.m. game on Senior Day.
"Every team has a bump. I hope it's over by tomorrow," Carosone said. "Every game is the most important game of the season. Even though we lost the series, there's no reason to give up and not come out and play our full best."
Texas A&M hit five homers Saturday, and has eight in the first two games of the series. Carosone's 2-for-3 day led Auburn. Kasey Cooper and Carlee Wallace also added RBIs.
Samantha Show improved to 23-9. Makayla Martin fell to 11-3.
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine
Emily Carosone broke the Auburn softball hit record Saturday, and played some pretty spiffy defense, too. Video: pic.twitter.com/rJMEwi9nRR
- Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) May 7, 2016