Box Score (.pdf)
Auburn, Ala. – The fifth-ranked Auburn Tigers scored two runs each in the second, fourth and seventh innings to earn a 6-1 victory over the USC Upstate softball team to advance in the winner's bracket of the NCAA Auburn Regional Saturday afternoon from Jane B. Moore Field.
Upstate falls to 43-14 on the season while Auburn improves to 51-9.
Kaylee Carlson (16-1) tossed a complete game after allowing one run on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Lexi Shubert (10-6) suffered the loss surrendering six runs (four earned) on four hits, six walks and five strikeouts.
Ryan Rector, Karla Beasley and Abbie Millete each had one hit for the Spartans, while Millete posted one RBI. Four different Tiger batters recorded one hit apiece, and Emily Carosone drove in a game-high two runs.
The teams traded scoring opportunities to begin the game in the first. Upstate starter Holly McKinnon walked the bases loaded in the top of the first with one out, but Shubert came on in relief to strikeout the first two batters she faced to keep Auburn scoreless. Rector and Beasley both singled in the bottom-half of the first for the Spartans, only to see a strikeout end the inning.
The Tigers used a two-out double by Carosone to take a 2-0 lead over Upstate in the top of the second. Courtney Shea and Whitney Jordan both walked to start the frame, before Shubert got two straight outs on a groundout and fielder's choice. Both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, and scored on Carosone's two-RBI double off the left field fence.
Millete cut the Spartans deficit down to 2-1 in the bottom of the second after hitting her ninth home run of the season. Carlson got Brittany Case on a groundout to lead off the inning before Millete belted a 3-2 offering to left field, making it a one-run contest.
Auburn drew four straight walks in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 4-1. Kasey Cooper and Carlee Wallace each had RBI walks against Shubert as the Tigers made it a three-run contest.
Carlson retired seven in a row at one point until a walk to Kori Wancheck with one out in the fifth. After Kendsey Chappelear reached on a fielder's choice, a double play ended the Upstate-half of the inning.
Auburn added two more runs in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 6-1. The first two Tiger hitters reached to start the inning after Anna Gibbs made it to first on a throwing error and Haley Fagan doubled to left field. Gibbs scored on the double by Fagan. Jordan plated Morgan Podany, pinch-running for Fagan, on a groundout to Ansley Gilstrap at shortstop.
The Spartans will face the winner of the Oregon State/Jacksonville State game tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET.
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