AUBURN, Ala. – Behind another standout pitching performance from sophomore Samantha Yarbrough, Auburn softball (14-8) closed the weekend on a four-game win streak after sweeping Binghamton (1-10) and Georgia Southern (11-9) in Sunday's Tiger Invitational finale at Jane B. Moore Field.
Binghamton jumped out to 3-0 advantage in the first inning, forcing the Tigers to mount their sixth comeback victory of the season and trailed by as much as four in the contest. Auburn used a six-run third inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Brittany Maresette to take the lead and never looked back. The Tigers flexed their offense plating 11 total runs off 12 hits for the 11-6 victory.
Freshman KK Dismukes made her collegiate debut in the game, earning the start in the circle. Dismukes had a 30-pitch cap on her rehab start, allowing three hits off three runs in the outing. She walked two while adding two strikeouts.
Ashlee Swindle earned the victory in relief to improve to 5-4 over her senior campaign. Swindle gave up three runs off six hits and recorded a strikeout. It was Yarbrough who shined in the outing, tossing the final three innings for her first save of the season. Yarbrough faced seven batters in the appearance, striking out seven.
After two scoreless innings, Auburn jumped ahead with a two-run third off timely two-out hitting from junior Makenna Dowell and senior Tannon Snow. The Tigers scored four insurance runs in the sixth with help of a two-run double from freshman Carlee McCondichie to cruise to the 6-0 victory.
Redshirt junior Lexie Handley earned the start in the circle for the Tigers. She walked three and gave up two hits over her 2.1 innings of work. The leftie struck out two. Yarbrough earned her third win of the weekend after tossing 3.1 innings of relief against the Eagles. She allowed just one hit and walked three while racking up four more strikeouts.
Coming into a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, Swindle tossed the final 1.1 innings of the game to earn her first save of the season. She allowed one hit in the seventh and struck out one.
Over the Tiger Invitational, Yarbrough allowed just three hits and just one earned run over her 17.1 innings for a 0.40 ERA in the circle. The right-hander posted a 3-0 record in the circle with one save and combined for just the second shutout of the season for the Tigers. She closed the weekend with 19 total strikeouts.
Senior Alyssa Rivera was Auburn's leader at the plate over the Tigers' six game homestand. The right fielder posted a .667 average over the invitational with a team-high 12 hits, including a double and two home runs to total six RBI. Rivera scored 10 runs over the weekend.
BINGHAMTON SCORING RECAP
Top 1
Tessa Nuss led off the game with a single to left field and moved into scoring position by stealing second. Stephanie Ragusa reached safely on a tricky bunt in front of the plate. KK Dismukes battled back with a strikeout for the first out of the inning. Ragusa swiped second, but the throw was mishandled and allowed Nuss to cross the plate. Dismukes fanned her second batter for out two, but back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Marissa Braito singled to shallow right, plating two runs in the process.
Binghamton 3; Auburn 0
Bottom 1
A one-out Carlee McCondichie line a ball over the head over Binghamton's first baseman was Auburn's first hit of the game McCondichie moved herself into scoring position with a stolen base. Tannon Snow delivered the two-out RBI single, finding no-man's land in shallow right for her 100th base hit in an Auburn uniform.
Binghamton 3; Auburn 1
Top 3
Kassidy Seary and Rozlyn Price led off the third with back-to-back solo home runs.
Binghamton 5; Auburn 1
Bottom 3
Alyssa Rivera led off the third with a single through the left side and swiped second to move into scoring position. The senior tagged up and advanced to third on a fly ball to right. Makenna Dowell drove in the first run of the inning with a single back up the middle. A walk and Binghamton error at second loaded the bases with two outs before Abby Tissier drew the bases-loaded walk to plate a run. Brittany Maresette put the Tigers in front with a grand slam to right field.
Binghamton 5; Auburn 7
Top 4
Amanda Ricci sent one back up the middle to lead off the inning, but Abby Tissier threw a rocket to second for the caught stealing to wipe the bases clear. Tessa Nuss reached with a bunt single back to the circle and advanced to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Makayla Alvarez cut Auburn's lead to one with an RBI single to left field.
Binghamton 6; Auburn 7
Bottom 4
The Tigers answered right back as Carlee McCondichie beat out an infield single to second before coming around to score on a Makenna Dowell double to left center.
Binghamton 6; Auburn 8
Bottom 6
Auburn opened the sixth with another leadoff single from Alyssa Rivera. The senior swiped her second base of the game to move into scoring potion. Carlee McCondichie plated an insurance run with a single up the middle before advancing to second on the late throw to the plate. Binghaton battled back with a couple outs, but Justus Perry continued the inning by beating out an infield single to third to drive in a run. Aspyn Godwin cleared the bases with an RBI triple to right center.
Binghamton 6; Auburn 11
GEORGIA SOUTHERN SCORING RECAP
Bottom 3
Alyssa Rivera kept her hot bat going with a one-out single to right field. After swiping second, Makenna Dowell knocked a single that Georgia Southern's shortstop tried to trap. Rivera beat out the throw to home for the first Auburn run of the game, while heads up running by Dowell on the throw home allowed her to reach third. Tannon Snow made it a 2-0 lead for the Tigers as her fly ball just fell in fair territory in left for a double.
Binghamton 0; Auburn 2
Bottom 6
Justus Perry led off the inning with a double to right center and was lifted for pinch runner Jadia Jones. Jones tagged up and advanced to third on a foul ball to right. Haley Nillen singled up the middle to bring jones up. Tyler King kept the inning going with a two-out single up the middle to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch brought Nillen home, while King never stopped running to advance all the way to third on the play. After a Rivera walk, Carlee McCondichie delivered the big hit with a double to center to clear the bases.
Binghamton 0; Auburn 6
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Mickey Dean
"I looked around in the circle and there wasn't one single face that shouldn't be proud. Every one of them should be proud of what they bring to the field. We've talked about two things this weekend, and that's having an impact and an influence on your teammates. They both should be positive. I thought our girls did a really nice job of that."
Sophomore Samantha Yarbrough
"I'm just a competitor. When my name is called, I am going to do everything I can to strike people out and to make them give my defense a play, because I trust my defense so much. I am so proud of the whole pitching staff this weekend because we really worked together as a family."
Senior Brittany Maresette
"You just have to have faith in your team. When it's my time, then I will perform how I'm supposed to. If not, someone else will step up and I'll fully support them."
TIGER TRACKS
KK Dismukes – Made her collegiate debut in the circle with a start against Binghamton.
Tannon Snow – Recorded her 100th base hit in an Auburn uniform with an RBI single to right in the first inning against Binghamton.
Brittany Maresette – Slugged her first home run of the season with a grand slam, the first of her career, against Georgia Southern. It was her first home run to leave the ballpark. Her only other home run in her career was an inside-the-park homer against Georgia on March 30, 2019.
Haley Nillen – Set a career high in hits with a 3-for-3 performance against Georgia Southern.
Alyssa Rivera – Finishing the weekend 7-for-7 in stolen bases, brought her career total to 34. She is now tied with Lauren Walton (2004-07) for fifth in program history in career stolen bases.
Samantha Yarbrough – Has not allowed a run over 10.1 consecutive innings. Went
Comeback Cats – Auburn has now recorded six come-from-behind victories this season with its win over Binghamton.
UP NEXT
Auburn begins a six-game road swing with its final tune-up before the start of Southeastern Conference play. The Tigers will trek to Macon, Ga., for a doubleheader at Mercer. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT.