Feb. 14, 2018
TROY, Ala. - Right-handed pitcher Kaylee Carlson pitched another gem, striking out seven batters with just one hit allowed as No. 13 Auburn defeated Troy 5-0 Wednesday at the Troy Softball Complex. The Tigers are off to a 7-0 start to begin the 2018 season.
The Tigers have shutout their opponent in the 6-of-7 wins this season, including five straight, a program record to open a season.
"I think it's important when you're in your first road game that you get off to a really quick start offensively with the top of our lineup, and they will really set the tone in that first inning. We got that done," head coach Mickey Dean said. "It enabled our pitchers to be able to go out and attack and relax. That's what we are looking for on the road."
Carlson (4-0) tossed 56 pitches over 4.0 innings and issued just two walks. The senior from Garden Grove, Calif. has 27 strikeouts through four games played.
The Auburn bats were active once again, notching nine hits. Victoria Draper and Alyssa Rivera led the team with two hits apiece.
Rivera, a native of Eagle Lake, Fla., was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. The sophomore has five hits in the last three games played.
Auburn started the game strong, putting up a 3-spot in the first inning. Justus Perry plated Draper on a sacrifice fly to right field and Rivera followed with a two-RBI single to give the Tigers a 3-0 advantage. Morgan Podany plated Rivera in the fourth on an infield single and KK Crocker scored the final run in the fifth on a base hit by Perry.
Junior Makayla Martin (2.0 IP) and sophomore Ashlee Swindle (1.0 IP) assisted in the shutout. The Tigers' pitchers tallied 11 strikeouts collectively.
Troy starting pitcher Claire Graves (1-1) was charged with the loss, allowing seven hits and all five runs, two earned, over 4.1 innings. The Trojans dropped to 3-1 on the season.
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field to host Delaware, St. Francis (Pa.), Maryland and Georgia State in the Tiger Invitational Friday through Sunday.