Oct. 15, 2016
Photo Gallery AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn softball team kicked off its first two games of the fall season in style at Jane B. Moore Field. The Tigers totaled 25 strikeouts in the circle and blasted eight home runs at the plate in wins over Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and Wallace State CC-Dothan on Saturday afternoon.
"I thought our pitchers did outstanding," said head coach Clint Myers. "They went out there and threw strikes. We walked one in 15 innings, so that's a pretty darn good.
"We had a much better approach in the second game. We had 19 barreled balls compared to the 10 we had in the first game. We're going up there and we're learning. That's the key. As long as we can keep learning, we're going to be in good shape. We're moving in the right direction."
In total, Auburn amassed 15 extra-base hits from nine different players between the two games.
The first game of the day versus Mississippi Gulf Coast CC got off to a fast start as Haley Fagan drilled a two-run homer in her first chance at the plate. Courtney Shea also added an RBI single to right.
In the third inning, the Tigers tallied three-straight doubles from Morgan Podany, Carmyn Greenwood and Fagan to add a pair of runs.
Auburn then had a new face contribute in a big way as Tannon Snow smacked a three-run homer over the wall in center. Sydne Waldrop also added an RBI single in the frame.
A pair of sacrifice flies from Jenna Abbott and Justus Perry came in the bottom of the sixth, and that was all that was needed as the pitching trio of Kaylee Carlson, Alexa Nemeth and Abbott allowed only four hits and totaled 11 strikeouts in the victory.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers took down Wallace State CC-Dothan to conclude the night.
Auburn asserted its dominance right away as it netted five runs all from home runs by the trio of Fagan, Shea and Snow in its opening chance at the dish.
Back-to-back roundtrippers that cleared the left field wall from Carlee Wallace and Snow took care of the scoring output in the bottom of the third.
Meanwhile, Makayla Martin was nothing short of brilliant in the circle. The sophomore tossed 4.0 innings and struck out a team-high 10.
Kendall Veach then laced a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to extend the margin for the Tigers.
Ashlee Swindle made her debut in the circle and scattered just one hit in 3.0 innings of work to go along with five strikeouts.
Nemeth then closed out the night by working a clean final stanza and sent Auburn to its second win of the day.
The Tigers get back on the field Sunday afternoon when they host Daytona State for a doubleheader at Jane B. Moore Field, beginning at 12 p.m. Admission is free and those who attend will receive a $1 drink voucher to the concession stand by bringing a non-perishable food item for the Beat Bama Food Drive.