PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Facing its first ranked opponent of the season, Auburn softball (8-4) fell to No. 16 Arizona State (10-2) in five innings, 13-0, at the Big League Dreams Complex to open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
After a scoreless first, a two-run home run from Denaw Chatman put the Sun Devils on the board. Arizona State continued its pressure, plating multiple runs in the third and fourth innings.
Sophomore Aspyn Godwin recorded Auburn's lone hit in the contest with a single up the middle in the second. Senior Tannon Snow reached base twice, drawing a couple walks.
Senior Ashlee Swindle (4-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs off seven hits and two walks. She struck out one over her two innings of work. Redshirt junior Lexie Handley and sophomore Samantha Yarbrough tossed relief innings for Auburn. Handley led the Tigers with four strikeouts.
SCORING RECAP
Bottom 2
After a one-out walk, Denae Chatman slugged her second home run of the season with a two-run homer to right center.
Auburn 0; Arizona State 2
Bottom 3
A Bella Loomis single and Maddi Hackbarth double put two Sun Devils in scoring position with no outs, forcing the Tigers to make a pitching change for Lexie Handley. After a walk loaded the bases, Jazmine Hill brought home two with a single up the middle. A passed ball moved the runners up 60 feet and plated the third run of the inning. After the Tigers made a change behind the plate, a dropped third strike brought home the final run of the inning.
Auburn 0; Arizona State 6
Bottom 4
After a one-out single to third, Alynah Torres doubled to left field to bring home a run. An error on the throw-down attempt at second allowed the ball to roll into the outfield, bringing an unearned run across the plate. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Arizona State before a single to left by Denae Chatman brought home a run. A hit by pitch loaded the bases again while a bases-loaded walk pushed across the fourth run of the inning. Kindra Hackbarth drove in two with a single to right center. A strikeout from Samantha Yarbrough tallied the second out, but a pinch-hit single from Macy Simmon drove in the final run of the inning.
Auburn 0; Arizona State 13
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Mickey Dean
"We have to compete. We have to get better. Our pitchers have to give us a chance, and our defense has to make routine plays and then you're going to have an opportunity. If you aren't doing those things, you don't leave yourself an opportunity to compete."
UP NEXT
Auburn continues the Mart Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday with a doubleheader slate. The Tigers will take on No. 25 Northwestern at 12 p.m. CT before rounding out the action against California at 2:30 p.m. CT.