Feb. 23, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. -- Kendall Veach tallied a career-high four RBI to pace No. 2 Auburn to a 6-0 win against North Dakota Thursday night. Kaylee Carlson and Makayla Martin combined for seven shutout innings and six strikeouts, while allowing just three hits in the contest at Jane B. Moore Field.
Related Links
"I thought the pitching was dominant," said head coach Clint Myers. "Makayla and Kaylee both did a great job. They attacked the zone. I really like the way we ran the bases and I really like the way we bunted the ball tonight. It's about taking what the defense is giving you and we were smart enough to do that."
The Tigers (10-1) racked up eight hits, including a home run from Courtney Shea, in their ninth consecutive win overall and seventh straight at home.
Auburn opened the scoring in its first chance at the plate. Carlee Wallace led off with a walk and moved to second after Kasey Cooper drew a walk. Back-to-back sacrifices from Haley Fagan and Veach scored Wallace and gave the home team a 1-0 lead.
Carlson worked through a nearly perfect three frames in the circle and gave up just one hit with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third, the bats came alive for the Tigers. Wallace and Cooper both reached base to begin the inning. Fagan legged out a bunt single and loaded the bases with zero outs. Veach took the first pitch she saw and drilled a bases-clearing double to the right-center gap and pushed Auburn ahead, 4-0.
Shea then belted her second roundtripper of the year -- a two-run shot -- to lengthen the margin to six.
Martin tossed the final four stanzas of relief and notched three strikeouts, picking up the save and guiding the Tigers to a 6-0 win.
Auburn officially kicks off the Tiger Invitational with a doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Tigers will battle UMass-Lowell at 3:30 p.m. before facing North Dakota again at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.