AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Auburn Softball was handed their first loss of the season from Louisiana Tech on Friday in their first game of the Rocket City Showcase in Madison, Alabama. LA Tech defeated the Tigers 5-1.
The Tigers previously led the all-time series versus Louisiana Tech 7-1. This loss marks just the second time the Tigers have fallen to the Bulldogs.
In the first inning, neither team could get the bats going. Sophomore Chalea Clemmons got the start on the mound for the Tigers, making her fourth appearance of the year. Clemmons showed strong pitching with three consecutive strikeouts to start.
The Bulldogs quickly took control, scoring two runs in the second inning. Claire Raley was able to reach base after a fielding error by the Tigers' Anna Wohlers. Shortly after, Nicole Hammoude hit a home run, allowing herself and Claire Raley to both go home, putting the Bulldogs up two runs over the Tigers. Auburn continued to struggle to get the bats going, with no hits again in the second.
Clemmons continued a strong performance allowing no hits in the third inning. In the bottom of the third inning, the Tigers' offense knew It was time to go to work. Senior Rose Roach hit a single, allowing her to reach first base. After Auburn’s Abbey Smith was walked, a wild pitch from Louisiana Tech’s Allie Floyd allowed Roach to advance to third and Smith to second. Senior Icess Tresvik was also walked. An error from the Bulldogs allowed for Roach to reach home, scoring Auburn's first and what would be their only run of the game.
The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, with yet again no hits from the Auburn offense in both innings.
The Bulldogs dominated the sixth inning, keeping the Tigers scoreless yet again. Reagan Marchant hit a home run off Auburn's Haley Rainey. This homer brought in two runs for the Bulldogs, as Alexis Gilio also came in to score. Claire Raley continued to stay hot for the Bulldogs, hitting a single to reach first base and then stealing second. Addison Snyder also hit a single, allowing for Raley to run home. This run brought the score to 5-1 for the Bulldogs.
In the seventh inning, the Tigers tried to battle back but continued to struggle to get the bats going. The Tigers once again had no hits in the seventh inning and allowed no more runs to be scored by the Bulldogs.
The Tigers had a poor overall showing in this game, with just one hit and a batting average of .045. Auburn will look to bounce back with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. CT where they will face in–state rival North Alabama and Miami (Ohio).
Auburn was originally scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday playing Louisiana Tech followed by JMU, but the contest against JMU was canceled due to weather.
The Tigers will conclude the Rocket City Showcase on Sunday, where they will face Jacksonville State. That game is slated for 3 p.m. CT. All three of these games can be viewed on FloCollege. They will also be broadcasted on WEGL 91.1 FM.
