April 7, 2018
Related Links
AUBURN, Ala. - Casey McCrackin's fourth-inning two-run home run was the difference as 11th-ranked Auburn softball defeated No. 8 Tennessee 2-0 Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field.
The shutout win is Auburn's 20th of the season, which ties the 2017 season for the second-most in a single season in program history.
The game was an outstanding pitcher's duel between Tigers starter Makayla Martin and Tennessee's Matty Moss. The pair allowed just three hits combined in the contest.
Martin, a junior from San Diego, Calif., was sensational in the circle for Auburn, tossing a complete game and striking out five in a 1-hit performance. It's Auburn's first 1-hit pitching performance since Feb 18, 2017 when Martin achieved the feat vs. Creighton. Martin also tossed her first career no-hitter earlier this season against Maryland.
"She was 'Makayla Martin, 2018'," head coach Mickey Dean said. "She's been like this all year. Our pitchers are giving us shots to win ball games. If you look at the results, not the score, but the results, we had two less hits than yesterday, but our approach was completely different. When you can keep a pitcher and the opposing teams defense on its heels a little bit it makes a difference."
Martin (14-3) also picked up her 250th career strikeout in the game. The right-hander walked three batters over 126 pitches. She carried a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning when the Lady Vols' Aubrey Leach hit a 3-1 count single to left field.
Deadlocked at no score in the bottom of the fourth inning, Taylon Snow led-off the inning with an infield single bringing McCrackin to the plate. The junior from Pensacola, Fla. proceeded to turn on a 3-2 count pitch over the plate and send it deep out to left-center field to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead which they wouldn't relinquish.
"I was just trying to get a pitch out over the plate," McCrackin said. "I knew where she was going to be pitching it, more out, and she just happened to leave something over the plate. I think it was a change. It was a little faster than she had been throwing and a little too high up. I was just able to drive it and that was it."
The two hits would prove to be the only hits of the day for Auburn as Tennessee's Moss kept the bats in check for the remainder of the game. Moss was eventually charged with the loss to drop to 15-3 on the year.
The rubber match between Auburn and Tennessee is tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CT.