The Auburn softball team went 2-3 overall in the five-game Citrus Classic this weekend in Orlando, Fla. The Tigers hold a 16-3 overall record and will break into conference play after the upcoming War Eagle Classic.
Auburn's first opponent of the annual home tournament will be Louisiana Tech at 12:30 p.m. Friday. The Bulldogs have a 10-11 record after losing a doubleheader to Baylor by consecutive 3-1 scores Tuesday.
Louisiana Tech left 11 runners on base in the first contest.
"We didn't hit poorly by any means," said Bulldogs coach Sarah Dawson. "We just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it. We couldn't string enough hits together to advance runners and push more than just the one run across."
Junior pitcher Janna Fandrup took the mound to start the second contest against Baylor, shutting them out the first four innings. The Bears broke through in the bottom of the fifth on a Fandrup throwing error, however.
"Janna started off stronger than where she finished," Dawson said. "I credit Baylor's players for making the adjustment against her the third and fourth time through the order. It was good to see her come out so strong from the beginning; we just needed to give her some run support and we didn't."
Auburn's most recent contest was Sunday against Penn State at the Citrus Classic. The Nittany Lions nipped Auburn 2-1, dropping senior pitcher Lauren Schmaltz's record to 5-2. Schmaltz pitched four innings, allowing one unearned run, three hits and one walk, along with recording eight strikeouts.
The contest was tied 1-1 through the eighth inning, but Penn State took the lead in the top of the ninth off an errant pick-off attempt to third base by senior catcher Elizabeth Eisterhold.
The Tigers advanced a runner to third in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were unable to tie the game.
"This was a disappointing loss," said Auburn coach Tina Deese "We left 12 runners on base and that will get you beat every time."
After taking on Louisiana Tech, Auburn will conclude its Friday slate of games with a matchup against George Washington (2-9) at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday pits Auburn against Drexel (3-8) at 10 a.m. and Evansville (3-5) at 12:30 p.m.
Auburn's final contest of the War Eagle Classic will be Sunday against Presbyterian (4-9) at 2 p.m.
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