Auburn 2, USA 1 Box

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MOBILE, Ala. – Auburn leftfielder Amber Harrison’s solo home run in the sixth inning Wednesday night proved to be the difference as the University of South Alabama softball team fell 2-1 to the 23rd-ranked Tigers at Jaguar Field.

“I think Morgan (Druhan) did a great job on the mound against a good team,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “It was a game that could have gone either way, but they got the hit and we didn’t.  They are a ranked team for a reason and when you get opportunities to score you have to take advantage of them. This was a game where we had a chance to win and didn’t get it done. ”

USA (24-6) junior Haley Hopkins led the Jags at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring the only run of the day for South Alabama. Christin Crocker recorded USA’s only other hit in the contest.  

Auburn (26-4) had five different players record a hit in the game, with RBIs coming from Harrison and Caitlin Stangl.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jag starter Morgan Druhan (8-2) ran into some one-out trouble.  The sophomore right-hander walked Elizabeth Eisterhold and Kelley Smith and then loaded the bases when Kelsey Cartwright reached on an infield single to third.  Stagl tried to drop in a single in shallow center but Jag outfielder Britany Campell made a diving grab, only allowing Eisterhold to tag up from third.  Druhan then was able to record the final out of the inning and get out of the jam.

South Alabama answered with a run in the bottom half inning. Hopkins reached on an error to start the second and Crocker followed with a bunt-single.  On the play, Hopkins was able to advance to third on another Tiger fielding error.  Crocker then stole second to place both Jag runners in scoring position.  After a fly out, USA tied the contest back up at 1-1 when Hopkins came into score on a passed ball.  

The game remained scoreless over the next few innings.  USA threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the fifth when it placed runners at the corners with one out, but Auburn starter, Angel Bunner (8-1) was able to retire the final two batters of the inning and end the threat.  Bunner would end up going the distance for the Tigers, recording nine strike outs.

Auburn was able to break the tie in the top half of the sixth when with two outs Harrison stepped to the plate and lined a 3-1 pitch to left center that hit the top of the fence for her fifth home run of the season, giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.

Over final two innings, Bunner allowed just one Jag base runner as Auburn held on for the one-run victory.

The Jaguars will now break for a week and return to action on Wednesday (March 30) at 6 p.m. when they host Southern Mississippi.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTES:  South Alabama pitcher Morgan Druhan recorded her 100th strike out in the first inning.  She has now recorded a team-leading 102 strike outs. With the win Auburn now takes a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series.

—USA—