After a 10-0 start to the season, the Auburn softball team fell 6-4 to Chattanooga, after a four-run fifth inning spurred them to victory Sunday, Feb. 17.
"I think we should have kept the momentum up," said Brooke Lathan, senior second baseman. "I think we let outside things, like the umpires, that we can't control, get us a little emotional and it influenced us in a negative way."
Lathan opened the scoring of the game at 1-0 in the bottom of the first when she took second after Chattanooga right fielder Stephanie Rieck dropped her fly ball, and then scored after two wild pitches.
Chattanooga tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth after Auburn catcher Caitlin Schultze fielded a bunt and threw high to first over first baseman Caitlin Jordan, which allowed Chattanooga's Sam Taylor to score from second.
Auburn regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Branndi Melero hit a ground ball to short, which was booted by Chattanooga shortstop Alyssa Taylor, allowing McKenzie Kilpatrick to score from third to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Lathan then hit a double that scored Tiffany Howard and Morgan Estell to put Auburn up by 4-1.
Chattanooga regained the lead in the top of the fifth, starting with a single to right-center by Anyssa Robles to bring home Sara Poteat and make the game 4-2.
With runners on the corners, Auburn made a pitching change to replace Hilary Mavromat for Marcy Harper.
Sarah Beth Roberts singled to right to bring home Taylor and make the game 4-3 for Chattanooga.
Chattanooga would load the bases and increase the lead to 5-4 with a single by Jenny Garcia that brought home Carmen Wooden and Roberts. Chattanooga did not look back as they tallied another run from a Roberts solo home run over the left field wall.
Auburn was unable to make up the deficit and fell to 10-1 for the season.
"We're going to pick each other up and know that we can do better," said Marcy Harper, freshman pitcher. "There's always room for improvement."
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