May 7, 2017
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Haley Fagan tied a career-high with two home runs in the series finale between the No. 9 Auburn softball team and No. 14 Alabama. The Tigers (45-9, 17-7) still won the series, despite falling 3-2 in the Sunday showdown at Rhoads Stadium.
"I thought Makayla [Martin] threw the ball well and Ashlee [Swindle] made just one mistake," said head coach Clint Myers. "Haley Fagan had a phenomenal day with two home runs. We've got to do a better job of putting the ball in play, but we won two out of three for the first time ever at Alabama.
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"We're moving in the right direction getting ready for postseason. We're excited to head to the SEC Tournament and see what we can do."
Auburn was limited to three hits on the afternoon. Fagan paced the team with two, while Carlee Wallace added the other hit - a single in the first inning - to round out the offense.
Kasey Cooper reached base in all four at-bats, drawing four walks, including one that was intentional.
In the circle, Ashlee Swindle got the start and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs. Makayla Martin came out of the bullpen to work the final 3 1/3 frames, scattering just three hits and notching one strikeout.
The Tigers were the first team to cross the plate in the top of the third when Fagan lifted a two-out, two-strike pitch over the wall in left. Auburn's 1-0 lead lasted just half of an inning, however.
The Crimson Tide plated all three of their runs in the bottom of the third on four hits, including two with two outs.
In the fifth, the Tigers got one back when Fagan drilled an opposite-field solo shot to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Auburn threatened again in the sixth when Victoria Draper and Cooper reached base, but was kept off the scoreboard as Alabama closed out the game, 3-2.
The Tigers limited Alabama to just four runs in the three games played in Tuscaloosa this weekend, setting a program-best for the lowest amount of runs allowed in a three-game series against the Crimson Tide all-time.
Despite the loss, Auburn clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament due to results around the league, including Tennessee's defeat of Texas A&M.
The Tigers will face the winner of the Kentucky-South Carolina matchup Thursday at 4 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.