Courtesy of Auburn Athletics
AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn University softball team played its second round of fall double-headers Sunday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field, getting a good contest from the Valdosta State Blazers, but coming away victorious in game one, 8-6, and another win in game two, 9-1.
Junior transfer Rachel Walters got the start in game one, pitching four good innings and only giving up one run on a solo home run. But as Marcy Harper came out of the bullpen in the fifth, Valdosta State’s bats woke up and scored five runs over the next three innings, including a three-run home run in the seventh from Courtney Albritton.
Harper was able to shut down the Blazers after the home run, giving Auburn its third fall win in as many games.
For Walters, it’s her second-straight strong fall outing, getting the win and only giving up two hits, one being the home run. Over her first two fall starts, Walters has only given up one run on six hits and eight strikeouts.
Offensively, the Tigers couldn’t get anything bigger than a single after the first four innings, but still managed to work their runners around and take a 4-1 lead.
Auburn finally got the big hit it needed as All-American Kasey Cooper launched her first home run of the fall, a two-run shot to give her team a 6-3 lead at the time. The Orange and Blue tacked on two more later in the sixth on a Courtney Shea single and an RBI triple from Anna Gibbs, her first of two triples on the day.
In game two, Auburn’s pitching kicked things up a notch as Jenna Abbott and Lexi Davis combined for a four-hit, one-run allowed game with Abbott taking the victory. Abbott had another good outing in the circle, going four innings and giving up only one run on one hit, a solo home run. Davis closed out the game’s final three innings, giving up no runs on three hits.
Over her two fall appearances, Davis has yet to give up a run and has only allowed four hits. She also has six strikeouts this fall, all in relief.
At the plate, it was a much more well-rounded game for the Tigers in game two, tallying 12 hits and plating nine runs. Auburn scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, not putting a zero on the board until the sixth inning.
The big inning came in the second when four runs came across, two from a triple by Anna Gibbs. Gibbs finished the game 2-for-2 with a single and the triple, along with three RBI. Over the two games, Gibbs went 3-for-5 with two triples and five RBI.
The Tigers next fall double-header will be on Oct. 16 at Jane B. Moore Field when Southern Union State and Central Alabama Community College come to The Plains. Game one is set for 3:30 p.m., while game two will begin roughly at 6 p.m. Admission is free to all fall games.
Auburn Softball public season tickets for the 2015 season at Jane B. Moore Field go on sale on October 6th. Fans can order their tickets online at AUBTix.com, over the phone by calling 1-855-282-2010 or in person by visiting the Auburn Arena Ticket Office, which is open 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
