Feb. 16, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - No. 13 Auburn softball added to their perfect 9-0 record by defeating Delaware 15-0 and Saint Francis (Pa.) 4-3 in walk-off fashion on Friday at Jane B. Moore Field in day one of the Tiger Invitational. It is the Tigers' fourth doubleheader sweep of the season.
Right-handed pitcher Makayla Martin (4-0) was the star of the day, adding two more to her win column. The junior from San Diego, Calif. pitched five innings on the day, all of which without allowing a run, extending her streak of scoreless innings to 20.
The Tigers started the day against Delaware (0-2). Though Auburn's defense kept the Blue Hens at bay, the Tiger bats were the highlight of the game tallying 11 hits and 15 runs to defeat the Blue Hens in five innings.
Auburn's offense caught fire early and never cooled down, with four Tigers batting a perfect 1.000 and seven different players notching a hit in the game. After scoring three runs in the first inning, the Tigers took a massive lead in the second as they batted through the order twice, scoring 10 runs on six hits while also taking advantage of seven walks. It is the most runs Auburn has scored in an inning this season.
Justus Perry, a junior from Prior Lake, Minn., was a key to Auburn's eighth victory, batting a perfect 3-for-3 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Also making an impact was Auburn freshman Taylon Snow, who also went perfect, batting 2-for-2 with 1 RBI and three runs scored.
The Auburn defense also had a strong outing against Delaware, led by starting pitcher Martin, who pitched three innings, allowing only three hits and no runs.
The Blue Hens tallied three hits in the contest to Auburn's 11. Starting pitcher Sarah Piening (0-1) was charged with the loss.
Contrary to the offensive show the Tigers put in in the first game, Auburn's second game against Saint Francis (Pa.) was vastly different as both teams battled to a nail-biting finish in the bottom of the seventh in a low-scoring affair.
The Red Flash struck first, blasting a long homerun to center field off of starting pitcher Kaylee Carlson, the first earned run Auburn has allowed in 53 innings to start the season. Auburn answered with a right-field triple from Taylon Snow and an RBI single from Perry, notching the game at 1-1.
Saint Francis tacked two more runs on the board in the fifth, coming from a two-run homerun to left field, giving the Red Flash a 3-1 lead, however Auburn once again answered the call with a two-run shot of their own by junior Morgan Podany to things back up at 3-3. It was Podany's first homerun since April 15, 2016 against Arkansas.
Martin came back to the circle to relieve Carlson in the fifth and dominated the Red Flash batters the rest of the way as she struck out 5-of-6 batters faced over 2.0 innings to put Auburn in the position to take the win.
Senior Victoria Draper answered the call in the bottom of the seventh, laying down a bunt and reaching safely on a throwing error, which allowed Brittany Maresette to score the game-winning run from second base.
Saint Francis' starting pitcher Abby Trahan (2-3) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just four hits, but was charged with the loss. Third baseman Kassidy Troxell led the Red Flash offense, going 3-for-3.
Day two of the Tiger Invitational begins tomorrow at 9 a.m. CT with non-Auburn games featuring Delaware vs. Maryland and Delaware vs. Georgia State. Auburn takes the field at 2 p.m. CT vs. Maryland and a 5:30 p.m. CT rematch with Saint Francis (Pa.).