April 20, 2018
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AUBURN, Ala. - No. 11 Auburn softball got back on track as they defeated No. 16 Arkansas 11-1 in the series opener on a very special evening for redshirt sophomore Tannon Snow Friday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Snow, a native of Chino Hills, Calif., was surprised by her teammates prior to the game's start as they revealed purple ribbons that they wore in honor of her battle with epilepsy. She also got to join her parents and two sisters to toss out the opening pitch.
"I had no idea. It was a complete surprise," Snow said. "I just put on my visor and looked up at the videoboard and was listening, and then my eyes got kind of big because I had no idea. I, of course, got choked up, and then to see my family out there, my older sister finally made it out to the south, which is awesome. It's been just incredible to have the support system alongside me with my family and teammates and everybody."
Snow used that motivation to pace the Tigers at the plate, going 2-for-3 in the box with a pair of RBI and a double, which led off a monster seven-run second inning. Auburn plated their first two runs of the inning on a 2 RBI double by Morgan Podany and plated three more on bases-loaded walks. Snow then tallied her second hit of the inning to score two more on a RBI single.
The big inning chased Arkansas starter Mary Haff (20-4) from the game and reliever Caroline Hedgcock took over for 2.0 innings of relief. Haff allowed five runs and was charged with her fourth loss of the year.
The Tigers found insurance in the third and fourth inning on a Taylon Snow sacrifice flyout and a 2-run homerun by Alyssa Rivera, her team-leading eighth of the season. KK Crocker plated the Tigers' final run on an infield RBI single in the fourth.
Rivera's round tripper continued a recent trend of success for the sophomore in sending balls out of the park as she has hit seven home runs in the last 16 games.
Auburn Ace Kaylee Carlson was lights out from start to finish in the circle for the Tigers (37-10, 10-8). The Garden Grove, Calif. product struck out four and allowed just one hit over 4.0 innings to improve to 18-3 on the year. Freshman Chardonnay Harris tossed the final inning, allowing one run on two hits.
The Tigers tallied nine hits to Arkansas' three. The Razorbacks fell to 33-10, 8-8 in SEC play.
Due to expected inclement weather on Sunday's radar, the teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 3 p.m. CT. Senior Day festivities will be held prior to the first game.