AUBURN, Ala. – A day after playing in extra innings, Auburn took care of business in five innings Sunday afternoon as the Tigers knocked off Mississippi State, 9-0, to clinch a road Southeastern Conference series victory.
The win helped No. 17 Auburn (28-5, 5-1) to its first road SEC series win since taking two of three in Oxford, Miss., against Ole Miss on March 30 through April 1, 2018. Sunday also marked the first career complete game shutout for junior right-hander Ashlee Swindle, who went 5.0 innings, scattered five hits, surrendered only one walk and struck out two batters.
"We did a lot of good things today," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean. "I looked at the charts last night and when Ashlee can hit her spots, they are not going to be successful against her. Our defense played extremely well behind her."
Auburn got out to an early lead after the top of the first inning after the Tigers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits, which was highlighted by a three-run home run by Kendall Veach.
Alyssa Rivera started the scoring with a single to right field that scored Taylon Snow and advanced Casey McCrackin to third. Tannon Snow followed with a double down the left-field line, before Mississippi State (20-10, 1-5) made the first of four pitching changes on the afternoon.
The Tiger lead was extended in the third inning when Justus Perry doubled home Brittany Maresette. Perry scored when Carmyn Greenwood reached on a throwing error during the next at bat. Two batters later, Greenwood scored on a passed ball before Morgan Podany ran home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of McCrackin.
"Throughout our lineup, we were all getting hits," Veach said. "Today at the plate, I was just trying to keep it simply. I just wanted to stay within myself and just see the ball and hit the ball."
Swindle limited Mississippi State's offense to two singles in the first and fifth innings and only one single in the third. She set down the Bulldogs in order during the second and fourth innings.
"My dropball was really working for me today," Swindle said. "I realized early on that they are aggressive hitters and just swinging, so I decided to keep the ball low and let my defense work."
Auburn will return to action on Wednesday, March 27 when the Tigers play host to Kennesaw State. The Tigers will resume SEC play this weekend when Georgia comes to Jane B. Moore Field.