Auburn Softball: Auburn Dominant as Tigers Sweep the Plainsman Invitational

Heading into the weekend, Auburn softball was facing many questions surrounding a lack of production at the plate through the first five games, but Auburn head coach Clint Myers answered those questions with adjustments to the lineup as the Tigers tallied 40 runs on 35 hits to sweep the Plainsman Invitational.

Auburn softball opened tournament play on Friday afternoon by beating Creighton 8-0 in a dominating performance on the mound by Kaylee Carlson. The junior pitcher went four strong innings only allowing one hit with five strikeouts before turning the game over to freshman Ashlee Swindle, who made her Auburn debut pitching a perfect fifth inning to close out the Auburn win.

Shortstop Haley Fagan led Auburn at the plate going 2-for-3 while blasting her first homer of the season, a three run shot in the fourth inning.

In the nightcap, Auburn again rode the pitching of Carlson, who gave up one run on two hits in six innings of work as the Tigers blasted SIUE, 8-1.

The bats came alive against SIUE in the third inning when Emily Swain was hit by a pitch, and two batters later, Victoria Draper reached base on bunt. Swain and Draper then scored on a clutch two run double by senior, Kasey Cooper. Fagan brought Cooper home on a triple down the third base line. Courtney Shea then added an RBI with a single of her own.

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Auburn added three more in the fifth inning on a two run home run by Kendall Veach, and a solo blast by Shea. Carlee Wallace added an RBI double in the sixth inning as Auburn took an 8-1 lead before Swindle took the mound and shut the door on SIUE in the top of the seventh for the win.

Saturday was no different for the Tigers as sophomore pitcher Makayla Martin only allowed four hits in 8 1/3 innings of work on the afternoon.

Auburn didn’t hit particularly well in the first game Saturday, only putting up three hits, but managed to hold off Evansville 5-3. Auburn took advantage of walks and fielding miscues early in the contest, but it was never as close as the score indicated. Martin was relieved by Swindle in the fourth inning, but returned in the seventh to shut the door on Evansville.

In the nightcap, Auburn never looked back after putting five runs on the board in the second inning, led by Kasey Cooper’s three run triple. Carlee Wallace added two RBI, and the Tigers were able to take advantage when putting runners on base all night in a 9-0 victory over Creighton.

Makayla Martin had a no hitter broken up with one out in the top of the fifth, but she slammed the door on the final two batters to end the game and finish with 10 total strikeouts.

In the tournament finale, the Tigers racked up 13 hits as Auburn blasted Mercer 10-1 in five innings to wrap up the weekend 5-0.

Mercer led 1-0 in the first inning after Auburn left two runners stranded, but took the lead on a two run double by Kasey Cooper in the second inning. The Tigers then added five runs in the third inning highlighted by Carlee Wallace’s two run double to the right-centerfield wall.

Auburn added three more in the fifth on an RBI single from Courtney Shea, and a double by Justus Perry that scored two more.

Kaylee Carlson got the win on the mound for the Tigers to run her record to 5-0 on the season.

After an impressive showing in the Plainsman Invitational, Auburn’s offense is trending in the right direction as the Tigers took advantage of multiple opportunities this weekend with runners on base.

Next: All-Time Auburn Baseball Rotation

Auburn will return to action at 6 p.m. this Thursday night as the Tigers host North Dakota at Jane B. Moore field.