April 29, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. – Tatiana Fernandez hit a walk-off three-run home run to lift the Auburn Tigers (25-30, 10-18 SEC) to a 3-0 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks (32-21, 10-15 SEC) Sunday afternoon. The win also gave the Tigers the three-game sweep over the Gamecocks with hopes of keeping their SEC Tournament berth alive, while the Gamecocks are still in need of a win to secure a berth. A Gamecock win would knock Auburn out of the tournament. Melissa Hendon (16-14) took the heartbreaking loss despite her stellar efforts in the circle. Hendon threw a perfect game for six innings before Ashley Arcuri led off the seventh with a single for the first Auburn hit.
Senior Holly Currie started the game for Auburn and gave up four hits in five innings pitched before Auburn relieved her with Anna Thompson (14-15). Currie struck out seven and walked two in the no-decision, as Thompson recorded the win on two innings of work. Thompson faced seven batters, struck out five and gave up one hit.
South Carolina’s first hit of the game came in the second when Lindsay Walker singled to right field but that would be all the Gamecocks would see as Currie struck out the next three batters.
The Gamecocks’ leadoff batter reached safely in five of the seven innings, and in the sixth, it appeared that South Carolina would break through when Lisa Longo shot a double off the left field wall off of Currie. The Tigers then changed pitchers and brought in Thompson. Thompson then struck out the next three batters to get Auburn out of the inning unharmed. South Carolina left six base runners on base for the game.
In the seventh, Payne led off with a single and was the first runner on either side to reach third, but the Gamecocks were unable to capitalize and Thompson and the Tigers made it out of the inning with the 0-0 tie.
In the bottom of the seventh, Arcuri snapped Hendon’s perfect game with a single to centerfield for the first baserunner of the game for the Tigers. After a fielder’s choice and an intentional walk, the Tigers had runners at first and second. A single by Sara Ghezzi threatened the Gamecocks as Ghezzi drove pinch runner Krista Klein around the paths but a heads up play by Voigt and McKenna Hughes threw out the runner at the plate to keep the game knotted 0-0. Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, that would not be enough as Auburn’s next batter, Fernandez, took an 0-1 pitch out of the park for the 3-0 final and ended the game. The home run was Fernandez’s sixth of the season.
The Gamecocks are in the midst of a five-game losing streak and have been shutout for 35.1 innings. South Carolina has not scored since the fourth inning of game three against Kentucky on April 22.
The Garnet and Black will close out the regular season this weekend at Beckham Field when the Ole Miss Rebels come to Columbia. South Carolina will need to win at least one game to advance to the SEC Tournament. It will also be Gamecock Softball Alumni Weekend and senior recognition weekend.
Auburn 3, South Carolina 0 (Apr 29, 2007 at Auburn, Ala.)
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South Carolina…… 000 000 0 – 0 5 0 (32-21, 10-15)
Auburn………….. 000 000 3 – 3 3 0 (25-30, 10-18)
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Pitchers: South Carolina – Melissa Hendon. Auburn – Holly Currie; Anna Thompson(6).
Win-Anna Thompson(14-15) Loss-Melissa Hendon(16-14) T-1:45 A-331 HR AU – Tatiana Fernandez.
