CLEARWATER, Fla. – It took two fourth-inning rallies, but No. 23 Auburn softball (3-1) completed a Saturday sweep over Liberty and Texas State at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex to round out the second day of competition at the 2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Liberty (0-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first but back-to-back home runs from freshman Madison Koepke and senior Justus Perry in the fourth inning help mount a 5-3 comeback for the Tigers.
It was another come-from-behind win in game two of Saturday's doubleheader after Texas State (2-2) took a 1-0 lead after the first. Sophomore Samantha Yarbrough tossed six shutout innings as Auburn's bench highlighted a 3-1 comeback for an undefeated Saturday.
Senior Tannon Snow was once again Auburn's hottest hitter as she closed Saturday's doubleheader with a 3-for-6 day at the plate. Koepke was the RBI producer for the Tigers with a team-leading four. Both of her hits drove in runs on Saturday, including her three-run homer against Liberty.
Auburn outscored its opponents 8-0 after the first inning to complete both comeback victories.
The pitching staff return to form with a team 1.50 ERA over Saturday's doubleheader, combining for 11 strikeouts. Sophomore Samantha Yarbrough was lights out in relief to record her Auburn victory. Yarbrough allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters, the most by any Tiger pitcher this season. She held Texas State to a .059 average at the plate.
Senior Ashlee Swindle improved to 2-1 as the right-hander tossed the complete-game victory over Liberty. Swindle allowed three runs in the first before being untouchable down the stretch. She only allowed three hits over the final six innings of play and struck out three.
LIBERTY SCORING RECAP
Top 1
Leading off the contest, a ball down the first-base line deflected off of Justus Perry's glove to allow a runner into scoring position. A single to center from Amber Bishop moved runners on the corners before a walk loaded the bases. Denay Griffin cleared the bases with a double over the head of Madison Koepke.
Liberty 3, Auburn 0
Bottom 4
Tannon Snow led off the fourth with a single to right field and was lifted for a pinch runner in Jadia Jones. After a hit by pitch to Haley Nillen, Abby Tissier laid down the sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Koepke tied the game with one swing with a three-run homer to right field, the first Auburn homer of the season. Auburn tallied back-to-back jacks as Perry landed a perfect ball in right field for the inside-the-park homer. Makenna Dowell kept the offense going with a bunt single back to the circle. Dowell moved into scoring position after a hit by pitch during Brittany Maresette's at bat. After a grounder moved both runners into scoring position, Auburn's aggressive base running came into play as Dowell scored off a wild pitch.
Liberty 3, Auburn 5
TEXAS STATE SCORING RECAP
Bottom 1
Bailee Carter led off the inning with a single up the middle for the Bobcats. A one-out single through the right side off the bat of Tara Oltmann and a walk loaded the bases for Texas State. Auburn almost got out of the inning unscathed with ground ball to shortstop, but the double-play relay was not in time allowing one run to score.
Auburn 0, Texas State 1
Top 4
Auburn's second fourth-inning comeback began in similar fashion as Tannon Snow leading off the inning with a single to right field. Pinch-runner Jadia Jones moved herself into scoring position with a stolen base before coming around to score on Aspyn Godwin's double to left. Koepke earned her fourth RBI off the day with a single to left to bring Godwin home.
Auburn 2, Texas State 1
Top 7
Justus Perry led off the seventh with a single to left before Makenna Dowell perfected a sacrifice bunt to move pinch-runner Carlee McCondichie into scoring position. McCondichie applied pressure by swiping third. The small ball game worked as Tyler King beat out an infield single to short to plate the insurance run.
Auburn 3, Texas State 1
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Mickey Dean
On the team's effort in today's comebacks…
"Sam (Yarbrough) came in and did a tremendous job in the circle. Our defense did a tremendous job. We had bases loaded in the first inning against Liberty, and that was a tough one to get out of. Our defense and Sam got us out of that. Then you have Aspyn Godwin step in. She brought a lot of spark to our offense. Jaylin Calvert came in and hit a double down the line. A lot people are playing important roles. I loved it."
Freshman infielder Madison Koepke
On her first collegiate home run…
"I knew I needed to get the ball in the air because I had a runner on third and knew she was going to tag. I saw the ball in the air, so I knew I did my job. Then I saw it go over the fence. I was shocked and nearly started crying. I was excited."
Senior infielder Justus Perry
On what's stood out over opening weekend…
"Just our fight. We have girls coming off the bench that are producing, and that's new for this team. Freshmen and returners – people coming off the bench to produce. You can see how much of a difference it makes."
TIGER TRACKS
Tannon Snow – Recorded at least one hit in all four contests of the 2020 season to extend her hit streak to six games. The streak began against Colorado State on May 19, 2019.
Aspyn Godwin – Tied career high with two hits against Texas State for just the third multi-hit game of her career.
Madison Koepke – Recorded her first collegiate home run against Liberty. Led the Tigers with four RBI over Saturday's doubleheader
Jaylin Calvert – Recorded a double in her first collegiate at bat in a pinch-hit appearance against Texas State.
Samantha Yarbrough – Recorded first Auburn victory with six shutout innings in relief against Texas State. She struck out seven batters, the most by an Auburn pitcher this season.
Justus Perry – Slugged the 11th home run of her with an inside-the-park shot against Liberty. It was the first inside-the-park homer by a Tiger since Brittany Maresette versus Georgia on March 30, 2019.
Strikeout Streak - The Tiger pitching staff has now recorded at least one strikeout in 188 consecutive games, dating back to the 2016 season. The streak includes all 122 games of the Mickey Dean era.
Undefeated - With today's victories, Auburn improved its undefeated records in the series history against both Liberty and Texas State. The Tigers are now 4-0 against the Flames and 3-0 versus the Bobcats.
UP NEXT
No. 23 Auburn closes out the 2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday as the Tigers face Illinois at 11 a.m. CT at Eddie C. Moore Field in Clearwater. The game will be streamed live via the NFCA's YouTube page.