The Auburn Softball team (13-6) came away from last weekend's War Eagle Classic 4-0 despite a close call against Valparaiso Sunday afternoon. The tournament began Friday in a doubleheader against Louisiana Tech and Tennessee Tech.
Senior pitcher Anna Thompson threw her first no-hitter playing for Auburn in the first game, helping the Tigers to a 1-0 win and earning her the title SEC Pitcher of the Week.
"I felt I was doing a really good job of mixing up my pitches against Louisiana Tech," Thompson said. "I knew our defense would do what they had to and they did a great job. I'm proud to earn conference pitcher of the week honors, but it is always a team effort."
Auburn took off in its 9-1 win over Tennessee Tech as sophomore Angel Bunner took over the mound. Sophomore Lauren Guzman drove in sophomore Krista Clyde in the second inning to put up the Tigers' initial run, but it was a seventh inning surge of five Auburn runs that inflated the final score.
"We did nothing last week but work on our offensive game, going opposite directions, hitting the ball where it's pitched, those sorts of things," said head coach Tina Deese. "I think we're going to continue to do that. Every win just makes the next one more important." Auburn's streak continued Saturday against Gardner Webb after Runnin' Bulldog pitcher Christine Murray gave up five runs in three innings. Auburn scored consistently throughout the game, including a home run from sophomore catcher Elizabeth Eisterhold in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two Auburn runs in the fifth and a forced Eisterhold run put the final score at 8-0. "We have to continue to play good, solid defense," Deese said. "Even if we keep hitting like we did today, we're going to have to come in with some more timely hits too."
The Tigers squared off against Valparaiso Sunday, whose infielder Kelsey Phalen hammered a home run off Thompson in the fourth inning to put the Crusaders ahead 1-0.
In the sixth inning, sophomore infielder Amber Harrison doubled. An Eisterhold hit was dropped by an outfielder, driving Harrison home and tying the game at 1-1.
The substitution of Bunner for Thompson in the bottom of the inning prevented runners on first and second base from scoring.
"I think we need to be stronger on the mound," Deese said. "You get into a tight, tough situation like that, especially when your team is going to scrap for three runs, you have to come back and you have to throw strikes."
Cartwright scored to put Auburn up by two in the eighth, but Valparaiso scored twice in the bottom of the inning to tie it once again.
In the ninth inning, Auburn's junior infielder Kelley Smiley singled to score outfielder Katie Colton, followed by another by Harrison that drove in two more runs.
Thompson then struck out two, followed by a pick from Eisterhold on an attempted stolen base that ended the game.
"I'm definitely proud of our team because we didn't give up after they came back and tied it up," Cartwright said. "The pitching staff did a great job going back and forth between Anna Thompson and Angel Bunner. They did a great job tag teaming on the mound."
After taking on South Alabama yesterday in Mobile, Auburn turns its sights to Kentucky. The Wildcats' 14th season win against Liberty Sunday gave the team its best start in program history.
"This definitely was a great team win, but there's always room to improve, of course," Cartwright said after Sunday's game. "We need to get on the board earlier, but I have full confidence in my team and I we're going to work hard on to the Wildcats next weekend."
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