CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 23 Auburn (3-2) came up short in a pitching duel against Illinois (4-0) in Sunday's finale of the 2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
The Fighting Illini took advantage of two Tiger errors, plating a pair of unearned runs to earn a 2-0 victory.
Senior Ashlee Swindle (2-2) was untouchable, allowing just one runner via a hit by pitch, through the first three innings. Swindle allowed just two hits and struck out one. Both runs charged to her were unearned.
Illinois Sydney Sickels tossed the complete game, allowing just two hits and a pair of walk. Sickles struck out seven in the victory.
Freshman Madison Koepke and junior Makenna Dowell recorded Auburn's lone hits in the contests. Both were singles.
SCORING RECAP
Bottom 4
A fly ball misplayed in left field led off the inning with a base runner in scoring position for Illinois. Swindle battled back with back-to-back pop ups before a passed ball moved the runner up 60 feet to third base. A double down the left field line from Shelby Stauffenberg drove in the go-ahead run.
Auburn 0, Illinois 1
Bottom 5
Fifth inning began in similar fashion with a fielding error in the outfield moving a runner into scoring position. After a sacrifice bunt, Maddison Koepke handled a hot shot to record the out and hold the runner at third, but a shallow single to left field from Kailee Powell scored the insurance run.
Auburn 0, Illinois 2
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Mickey Dean
"We were chasing at balls all day – not every batter, but I would say 10 out of the 12 batters that we used. We knew the pattern going in. We just didn't execute. We've got to get better every day. You've got to own that, and if not – what do you need to do to change that? We work on things. We know what we're supposed to do."
TIGER TRACKS
Jaylin Calvert – Earned her first collegiate start as Auburn left fielder.
Strikeout Streak - The Tiger pitching staff has now recorded at least one strikeout in 189 consecutive games, dating back to the 2016 season. The streak includes all 123 games of the Mickey Dean era.
UP NEXT
No. 23 Auburn opens its home slate at Jane B. Moore Field on Thursday, Feb. 13 against Kennesaw State. First pitch on the SEC Network+ is set for 6 p.m. CT.