AUBURN, Ala. – The bats came alive for No. 20 Auburn on Sunday as the Tigers knocked off Furman 15-1 and UAB 11-3 in five innings to close out the 2019 Plainsman Invitational.
The day got started with an eight-run bottom of the third inning for the Tigers (7-3) against Furman, which was highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Casey McCrackin and Tannon Snow within the inning's first three batters. Auburn sent nine more batters to the plate during the inning with Alyssa Rivera, Justus Perry, Kendall Veach, Makenna Dowell and Morgan Podany all scoring.
The following inning, Rivera hit her third home run of the season to leadoff before Tan. Snow — eight batters later — cranked her second of the game to make it 15-1 Tigers.
Meanwhile, Lexie Handley received her first career start in the circle for Auburn and shinned brightly. Handley, one of two left-handed pitchers on the staff, tossed four innings, scattered three hits, allowed an unearned run, walked two and struck out four of the 16 batters she faced. Ashlee Swindle finished the game by throwing a hitless fifth inning.
Auburn picked up its second win over UAB in four days as McCrackin and Tan. Snow led a come-from-behind victory as the duo combined for five of the Tigers' 13 hits. Additionally, Rivera launched her second home of the day when she brought home both Snow sisters during a seven-run second inning.
Veach added to the scoreboard with a two-run triple — her sixth career triple — before scoring on a wild pitch during the next at bat.
UAB, after scoring two runs — one unearned — in the top of the first off Makayla Martin, was held scoreless until Sarah Crawford hit a solo home run to extend the game in the top of the fifth. However, Veach, again, drove home a run and ended the game with a double down the left-field line in Auburn half of the fifth.