AUBURN, Ala. – The friendly confines of Jane B. Moore Field continue to get friendlier as No. 14 Auburn won its 20th home game this season after knocking off Kennesaw State, 4-2, Wednesday night.
With 10 regular-season home games remaining on the schedule, the Tigers, now 20-1 at home this season, will have an opportunity to surpass last year's 29-3 home record. They will put that record on the line this weekend when No. 12 Georgia (26-9, 1-5) comes to town.
"Just grit," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean on his team. "It wasn't pretty, but did we ever battle. I mean, a freshman comes in and draws a bases-loaded walk, that's unreal."
With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Aspyn Godwin entered the game as pinch-hitter and drew a full-count, bases-loaded walk to give No. 14 Auburn (29-5, 5-1) a 3-2 lead as Casey McCrackin, who finished the game with a career-tying three hits, scored from third.
The following inning, Morgan Podany extended the Tigers' lead to 4-2 with a solo home run. It was Podany's first home run of her senior season and first since hitting one against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 16, 2018.
"Honestly, I thought I was seeing (Hailey Andrews) pretty well," said Podany, who finished with two hits in three at bats. "I've been working on some things with my swing and I'm just trying to feel comfortable up there."
Kennesaw State struck first with an unearned run in the top of the first as a Kira Czyrklis single plated Maddie Roth. Auburn responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on an Alyssa Rivera ground out and a Tannon Snow single.
The Owls tied the game in the top of the fourth to set the stage for Godwin's walk the following inning.