Feb. 19, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 2 Auburn softball team tallied a season-high 13 hits en route to a 10-1 win against Mercer to close out the Plainsman Invitational Sunday afternoon. The Tigers (9-1) had eight different players contribute at least one hit in the tilt at Jane B. Moere Field.
"I think the quality at bats are getting better," said head coach Clint Myers. "For the most part, we ran the bases pretty well. I thought we played pretty good defense. Kaylee [Carlson] went out there and shut [Mercer] down for four innings."
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Victoria Draper paced the offense with three hits and three runs scored - both tied career-best marks. Haley Fagan, Kendall Veach and Carlee Wallace each racked up two hits and combined for all three of Auburn's three extra-base hits.
Six of the nine spots in the lineup for the Tigers reached base, with five reaching base at least twice.
Kaylee Carlson wrapped up her fourth victory of the weekend after striking out two and scattering four hits through four innings in the circle.
Mercer (4-5) took the lead in its first chance to bat as the designated home team on an RBI double.
The lead did not last long as Auburn plated two in the top of the second. Morgan Podany drew a walk, Draper bunted for a hit and Wallace walked to load the bases. Kasey Cooper then flared a single back up the chute to bring in Podany and Draper.
In the fourth, Podany and Draper mirrored their first at bats and were both brought in on a Wallace double to the right-center gap to make it 4-1. After a Cooper walk and a Fagan single, Veach grounded out, but it was enough to bring in another run.
Madi Gipson then laced a run-single to left field and Alyssa Rivera produced an RBI groundout to cap the Tigers' five-run frame.
The game was put out of reach in the top of the fifth when Auburn totaled three runs on five hits, highlighted by RBI singles by Courtney Shea and Justus Perry.
Jenna Abbott came on and closed out the game with a spotless inning in the circle, sending the Tigers to the 10-1 victory in five innings.
"It feels good," stated Myers about the offensive onslaught. "You saw glimpses of what we hope we're going to do on a regular basis. Right now, one day doesn't prove anything, so we have to out and prove that each and every game."
Auburn continues its 21-game homestand when it hosts North Dakota Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Tigers will then take part in the Tiger Invitational, Feb. 24-26, at Jane B. Moore Field.