TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 24 Auburn got to where it wanted to be by the time Saturday came to a close as after falling to No. 6 Arizona, 2-1, the Tigers bounced back to beat Colorado State, 8-0, to advance to Sunday's regional final against the Wildcats.
It marks the fifth time in six years (2014-2017, 2019) and sixth time overall Auburn has advanced to a regional final. Arizona and Auburn have faced off in a regional final before when the Wildcats knocked off the Tigers, 4-2, in the 2006 Tucson Regional.
"One game," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean on tomorrow's outlook. "One game. That's it."
Auburn started the day against the Wildcats as Lexie Handley (6-4) kept one of the nation's top home-run hitting teams at bay as Arizona, through its two games of the regional, has yet to hit a ball out of the park.
However, Arizona's damage came with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a pinch-hit, two-run single by T Statman. Wildcat starting pitcher Taylor McQuillin (22-7) held Auburn scoreless through the game's first six innings until Bree Fornis smacked a solo home run off the batter's eye in centerfield to open the seventh inning.
The Tigers continued to threaten in the inning as Morgan Podany lined a two-out single to right field to roll up the batting lineup and bring Casey McCrackin to the plate. But the senior popped up a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Having dropped into the loser's bracket portion of the regional, Auburn struck for four runs in the top of the second against Colorado State, which eliminated Harvard during the day. Podany started the offensive outburst when she singled home Justus Perry. McCrackin followed with a single to left field that scored Makenna Dowell. Then things busted open when two more Tigers scored on a Ram fielding error.
Auburn struck for four more runs in the top of the fifth, which was highlighted by an Alyssa Rivera solo home run, a Carmyn Greenwood bases-loaded walk then a two-run single by pinch-hitter Aspyn Godwin.
"I've kind of taken a different approach at the plate," said Perry on her offensive turnaround. "Being as tall as I am, people want me to hit home runs, but you can also be productive in different ways and I've taken that approach now."
While Auburn's offense was putting up runs on the scoreboard, Chardonnay Harris (11-6) kept Colorado State off it as she threw a five-inning complete game shutout. She scattered three hits, struck out three Rams and issued only one walk to the 19 Colorado State batters she faced.
Auburn and Arizona will face off again on Sunday, May 19th with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT / 4:05 PT. The Tigers must defeat the Wildcats twice to advance to next week's Super Regional. However, the Wildcats only have to win once to win the regional.