AU softball falls to Louisiana Tech in Region opener

Special to the News

Published: May 16, 2008

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Louisiana Tech’s Emma Barnes singled home Sara Offutt with two outs in the top of the 12th inning to give the Lady Techsters a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Auburn in the first game of the College Station Regional on Friday afternoon.

The 12-inning game was the longest for Auburn since a 12-inning game vs. Florida State on April 15, 2000.

The loss moves Auburn (37-21) to the elimination bracket of the regional. The Tigers will play Stephen F. Austin at 2:30 p.m. today. Louisiana Tech improved to 36-27 with the win.

“Obviously this is a disappointing loss,” Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. “I’m very proud of our pitchers, they did a great job keeping us in the game. We missed some opportunities to push runs across and get runners in scoring position. We know what we are facing tomorrow.”

Anna Thompson took the loss for Auburn to fall to 12-12. Thompson entered the game in the fourth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. Thompson got out of that jam and then set down the next seven consecutive batters.

Thompson fanned 12 of the 29 batters she faced in 8 2/3 innings. She allowed four hits and one earned run. Brittany Day started and went the first three innings, allowing only two hits.

Wanda Malone earned the win to move to 2-0. Malone threw the final three innings, allowing only two hits with one strikeout. Krissi Oliver started and went nine innings. Oliver gave up seven hits and one walk.

Auburn threatened in the bottom of the 12th inning when Alicia Hunolt laced a leadoff double to the wall in right-center. Megan Mitchell was put in to pinch-run, but Malone never allowed her to advance as she recorded the next three outs to end the game.

Pitching dominated the game as the Tigers and Lady Techsters combined for only five hits through seven innings.

The Tigers’ missed a scoring opportunity in the third inning. Starr Dorsey reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on Cassie Trosclair’s sacrifice bunt. Brittany Scott then singled to shallow left and Dorsey rounded third attempting to score. But, Tech’s Danielle Sheridan’s throw was on target and easily got Dorsey at home to maintain a scoreless game.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth the Tigers loaded the bases. Cassie Trosclair singled and moved to second on Kyndall White’s sharp single through the left side. Jorja Bell then reached on an infield single to load the bases.

But Tech got out of the jam and sent the game to the ninth inning when Tatiana Fernandez grounded out to second.