AUBURN, Ala. – Lexie Handley and Aspyn Godwin shined as No. 20 Auburn (19-4) knocked off Radford, 5-2, and Mercer, 10-2, in the War Eagle Challenge Friday night.
On the day, Godwin, a true freshman, went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Handley (4-0) went 5.0 innings, struck out eight batters and allowed only one earned run on 98 pitches in the circle against Mercer. Handley, who transferred to Auburn from Akron during the offseason, is now tied with Ashlee Swindle (4-2) for the second-most wins on the team after Friday's games.
"I think we are starting to get comfortable and find our rhythm," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean. "Defensively, we are communicating a lot better lately, so hopefully that continues."
Against Radford, Auburn fell behind after the Highlanders (6-11) scored two runs in the top of the first, but Tannon Snow scored Taylon Snow from third base with a two-out single to centerfield. Godwin, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter, gave the Tigers the lead with a two-out single back up the middle in the bottom of the fourth.
The Auburn lead was extended the following inning when Casey McCrackin scored on an Alyssa Rivera single, before Kendall Veach launched her eighth home run on the season in the bottom of the sixth.
Later in the day, Mercer (10-12) struck first in the first inning courtesy of a throwing error and back-to-back singles. However, Auburn responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run home run by Tan. Snow. The Bears scratched at the lead by plating another run in the second, but Handley went on a streak of five straight strikeouts to end the second and start the fourth to displace any Mercer momentum.
"(Handley) was lights on in the circle once she settled down," Dean said. "I think the one thing I'd like to see our pitchers do is if we make a defensive mistake — even if it's in the circle — let's go get that next batter and don't dwell on the mistake."
Godwin's magic returned in the second game as she followed a first-inning run-scoring triple with a run-scoring double in the midst of a three-run third inning to extend Auburn's lead to 7-2.
"I tried not to mess up, because I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity," Godwin said. "I haven't really hit in two years — because of my previous injury — so I was struggling a little bit in the Fall, but I've been working every day in practice. It seems like everything is coming together."
Rivera added a solo home run in the third, before Tay. Snow plated Bree Fornis in the fifth. Haley Nillen, another freshman, ended the game in the sixth with a RBI double to cap the Tigers' 10-2 victory.
Auburn will look to continue its good play at Jane B. Moore Field this season when the Tigers host Louisville (2 p.m.) and Michigan State (4:30 p.m.) Saturday afternoon.