June 8, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - They had come oh-so-close, and now they were choking back tears.
Auburn suffered an emotional 2-1 loss to Oklahoma in the softball's College World Series finals Tuesday night - and left ASA Hall of Fame Stadium with the promise to return, to better the best season in school history.
"I am very proud of these young ladies that play softball at Auburn University," said coach Clint Myers. "They gave their heart, their soul, their commitment. They battled. They were relentless."
And they said they'd return. Outfielder Tiffany Howard predicted next season's Tigers will complete the mission.
"I guarantee you they'll be back next year to finish it off," Howard said.
Auburn, the team of dramatics, couldn't find the big hit against the pitching might of Paige Parker, who improved 38-3. Yet Auburn freshman Makayla Martin matched her pitch for pitch and didn't blink against the post-season's hottest pitcher. Martin allowed two unearned runs in six innings.
Martin was the winning pitcher in relief in Auburn's wild 11-7 win over Oklahoma on Tuesday. Less than 24 hours later, she became just the third freshman to start in a World Series deciding game. She fell to 15-4 as she delivered the promise of big seasons to come.
"People were asking: Why a freshman? I think you saw why a freshman," Myers said. "Ice water in her veins. Competitor beyond competitors. An outstanding young lady who went out there and took the ball and said we are going to win."
Auburn's run came on a Jade Rhodes' homer in the fourth.
Myers said all of that was part of this season's success story.
"We could go on and on about the accolades for these young ladies," he said. "We have a saying that if you pay softball at Auburn University you will make the world a better place. I believe each of these young ladies, with their commitment, their drive, what they've learned as far as life lessons, have made the world a better place."
But it was an emotional Wednesday. SEC Player of the Year Kasey Cooper, the good teammate, choked back tears talking about Carosone, for the team not having her back after she committed two errors in the first inning. So many times this season when one player would fail, another player would finish the job with a play or a hit.
"We weren't there for her," Cooper said.
It was still an Auburn season that produced a record number of wins, a second straight Southeastern Conference Tournament championship and a run all the way to the College World Series title game for the first time.
It was a season of 10 seniors who won a lot of games.
It was a World Series of memories, such as Victoria Draper's highlight diving catch in Sunday's win, Howard's over-the-fence catch and Carosone's walk-off grand slam to beat Oklahoma 11-7 in extra innings Tuesday night. There were other dramatic comeback wins in Oklahoma City, too.
It was a season of the player they called "Turtle." Kelsey Bogaards spent months rehabbing her surgically-repaired right knee, then blew out her left knee in her second game back. Her teammates, and Auburn fans, rallied around her story, waiving toy turtles at games for all to see. There was also the comeback of Haley Fagan, who returned from knee surgery to make her first appearance of the season in the SEC Tournament, and then was a familiar face in the starting lineup.
It was Cooper being named SEC Player of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year. It was Carosone winning the team MVP honors, and, of course, her World Series grand slam.
It was a new experience for Auburn. And it was a return to the World Series finals for Myers. He coached Arizona State to softball national championships in 2008 and 2011, not to mention his success at Central Arizona College where he won seven national titles in softball and baseball.
Auburn made its first trip to the College World Series last season in Myers' second year with the Tigers.
Auburn almost won it all in Year Three.
Everything happened early Wednesday. Oklahoma scored two unearned runs in the first. Auburn had a chance to even the score, and maybe more, when it loaded the bases with no outs in the third. Carosone, the hero the night before, struck out and Carlee Wallace hit into a double play. Rhodes' third homer of the World Series proved to be Auburn's only run.
Carosone said Auburn will be OK.
"They're going to come back next year and they're going to come back strong."
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine
A tough loss, to be sure, but Auburn said in post-game press conference it will return to College World Series pic.twitter.com/sb5x8l3q1v
-- Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) June 9, 2016