Oxford, Miss. – The
24th-ranked Auburn softball team committed three errors five
unearned runs as Ole Miss avoided the sweep with a 6-1 win over the Tigers.
Auburn dropped to 26-12 overall and 5-8 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole
Miss improved to 15-18 overall and 3-8 in the SEC.
"This was a disappointing performance," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "Ole
Miss took it to us and we made mistakes. We have to re-group and get back to
work next week."
Lauren Schmalz started took the loss to fall to 7-5. Schmalz went the first two
and one-third innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with no walks
and one strikeout. Jenee Loree relieved Schmalz in the third inning and went
two and one-third innings, allowing two runs, both unearned, on one hit with no
walks and no strikeouts. Angel Bunner pitched the final one and one-third
innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits.
Kendall Bruning earned the complete-game win to improve to 12-9. Bruning
allowed one run, earned, on two hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
The
Rebels jumped out to the early lead, pushing two runs across in the bottom of
the first. Corrine Doornberg reached on an error to open the Ole Miss half of
the inning and took second on a bunt single by Brittany Broome. A sac bunt
moved the runners to third and second with one out.
Londen Ladner brought Doornberg home with a ground ball in the hole at short.
Lauren Guzman fielded the ball and fired home but was unable to register the
out as Doornberg scored to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead. With Broome at third and
Ladner at first, Allison Brown lofted a sac fly to center to score Broome and
give the Rebels a 2-0 lead.
Offensively,
the Tigers could get nothing going against Bruning. Auburn stranded four
runners through the first four innings including two runners in the second
inning. The Tigers put the leadoff batter on the fourth when Brooke Lathan drew
a walk. A wild pitch moved Lathan to second, but that would be as far as she
advanced as Bruning ended the threat with a strikeout and ground out.
Auburn again put the leadoff batter on when Caitlin Schultze drew a walk in the
fifth inning. Schultze was lifted for pinch-runner Kristyn Richards. After
pinch-hitter Maris Medina flied out to left, Richards was gunned down
attempting to steal second for the second out of the inning. Ole Miss ended the
inning with a punch-out of Guzman.
Ole Miss added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth. A one-out walk to Broome
followed by two-out walks to Ladner and Brown loaded the bases for the Rebels.
Erinn Jayjohn then hit a ground ball to third that Schultze couldn't retrieve
from her glove, allowing Broome to score and all runners advance on the error.
Broome's run gave Ole Miss a 3-0 lead. The Rebels made it 4-0 when Marina Parra
hit a ground ball to third that Schultze fielded, then made a diving attempt to
tag third base but was unable to get the out, allowing Ladner to score the
second run of the inning.
The Rebels continued to pad their lead in the sixth inning. After the first out
of the inning, Doornberg, Broome and Cantillo each singled. Broome's single to
left was booted by Medina, who stayed in for Stephens, which allowed Doornberg
to score for a 5-0 lead. With Broome at third and Cantillo at first, the Rebels
pulled the delayed steal of home after Cantillo broke for second and pulled the
Tigers into a rundown. Broome scored easily for a 6-0 edge.
The Tigers broke the no-hit and shutout bid in the seventh when Amber Harrison
doubled to the gap left-center. Caitlin Jordan followed with a sharp single up
the middle that plated Harrison to make it a 6-1 game. Bruning would fan
Schultze and force Medina into a game-ending double-play for the final 6-1
margin.
