AUBURN, Ala. ? After being limited to just one hit, the University of South Alabama softball team dropped a 3-0 decision Tuesday night to in-state foe Auburn at Jane B. Moore Field.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 19-25 on the season, while USA falls to 27-15. The Jags will return home this weekend for a key Sun Belt Conference series versus No. 15 Louisiana-Lafayette. Game one of a Saturday doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. at Jaguar Field.
Auburn starter Anna Thompson pitched a gem for the Tigers, striking out 12 Jag batters, while allowing just one hit. With her 11th complete game of the season, Thompson picked up the win to even her record to 11-11, while Amanda Leggett (4-3) took the loss for South Alabama.
Lauren Walton led the Tigers offense on the night with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including scoring two of Auburn’s runs. Jag designated player Tara Donaldson, a transfer from Auburn, recorded the Jags lone hit of the game in her return to the Plains.
After not registering a hit the first time through the line up, the host Tigers broke through on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. With one out in the inning, Auburn second baseman Ashley Arcuri drove a ball to the wall in left center and then moved to third on an infield bunt by Walton. Tiger designated player Tatiana Fernandez then brought in Arcuri with a sacrifice fly to center. Auburn got its second run of the inning one batter later when right fielder Sara Ghezzi reached on a Jag error, allowing Walton to score all the way from second.
In the fifth, the Tigers added an insurance run. Walton led off the inning with her second hit of the game, a single to left, and moved up to second on the play when Jag left fielder Evelyne Pare miss played the ball. The Auburn centerfielder then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Fernandez, Walton put the Tigers up 3-0 when she came in on Ghezzi’s sacrifice fly.
The Jags best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fourth when South Alabama had two runners on with two outs. USA, however, could do no damage as both runners were left stranded.
