Feb. 14, 2014
Box Score
Auburn, Ala. - The Auburn Tigers came out with bats blazing in tonight's matchup against Loyola University Chicago in Auburn, Ala., blasting 11 runs on 10 hits to power past the Ramblers in five innings. Loyola's 11-2 (5) defeat came after winning its first game of the tournament in comeback fashion against Western Illinois, now falling to 2-5 on the season with the loss to the Tigers. With the win, Auburn improves to 6-1-1.
The Tigers got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, when both Morgan Estell and Austyn West hit two-run homeruns to give Auburn an early 4-0 lead. Loyola responded in the top of the second, stringing together a Lauren Zaworski double and a Brie Pasquale single to push one run across the plate and bring the score to 4-1.
Auburn continued its offensive push, however, and added two more runs in the bottom of the second. After Estell reached on a fielder's choice and Kasey Cooper drew a walk, a Branndi Melero double brought both base runners around the horn to increase the Tiger lead to five.
Loyola continued to chip away in the top of the third inning, with an Alyssa Mannucci walk leading off the frame. The freshman then advanced to second on a passed ball and scampered to third on a wild pitch before an Erica Nagel double brought her home.
In the bottom of the third inning, Auburn strung together a walk and back-to-back singles to score their first run of the frame. After Tiffany Howard was hit by a pitch to load the bases, two Kristina Vizza walks pushed two more Tiger runs across, giving Auburn a 9-2 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning, as were the Ramblers in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, Auburn led off the inning with an Emily Carosone walk and an Estell double. After Cooper singled to right center, both runners crossed home plate to make the score 11-2 and end the game after five innings in a run-rule.
Amanda Ciran took the loss for the Ramblers, giving up five hits and five runs in 1.0 inning pitched. Offensively, Nagel led the Loyola lineup with a 1-for-2 night that included one double.
The Ramblers are back in action tomorrow morning when they take on Marshall at 9:00 a.m. and Winthrop at 11:00 a.m. in their second day of the Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Ala.
