April 20, 2013
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn (28-19, 7-13 SEC) took the second game of the series on Saturday against South Carolina (24-20, 3-14 SEC) 7-1 in front of 1,603 fans at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers scored two unearned runs in the first, with Morgan Estell plating the first from second on a tough play that kicked off the second baseman’s glove as she ranged up the middle. With the bases loaded and two down, Kelsey Bogaards got hit by a pitch, forcing home Tiffany Howard for the second run.
Three more Auburn runs came in the second. Brooke Lathan singled home Estell before Caitlin Schultze, up with the bases loaded, got a two-out, two-RBI single, scoring Emily Carosone and Lathan. The Tiger lead grew to 7-0 after Estell drove in Branndi Melero after her second double and Estell scored on Carosone’s sacrifice fly.
South Carolina scratched out a run in the sixth. The Gamecocks got one-out hits from junior third baseman Codee Yeske and senior shortstop Samie Garcia. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and Yeske took advantage by scoring on the groundout by freshman left fielder Alaynie Page, making it 7-1 Auburn.
Auburn’s Lexi Davis (8-8) got the win, going the distance and giving up one earned run on three hits while striking out five. Gamecock redshirt senior Audrey Broyles (7-8) took the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks in 1.2 innings of work. Freshman Katie Marks pitched well in relief, giving up one hit in three scoreless innings of relief. She struck out two.
Estell scored three times in a 2-for-3 day, while Howard went 3-for-4. Melero tallied two doubles and scored one run. Garcia, junior right fielder Chelsea Hawkins and Yeske had hits for the Gamecocks, with Hawkins getting a double off the wall in center.
The Gamecocks and Tigers go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT.
