Former Auburn standout Kasey Cooper and the USA Softball Women’s National Team defeated the Alabama All-Stars in a double-header at Jane B. Moore Field on Saturday, July 22, 2017.
Team USA headed into Saturday’s games with two wins from the first exhibitions in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, July 20, 2017.
Cooper squared off against a few familiar Auburn faces on the Alabama All-Stars team, including current Tigers Victoria Draper, KK Krocker, Ashlee Swindle and Kendall Veach.
“To see that it was sold out here at Auburn, that’s amazing,” Cooper said. “It just tells me that Auburn’s always going to be home to me.”
In a six-point deficit, the Alabama Stars called to the bullpen in the fourth to bring Tyler Harrison to the mound. Shortly after the pitching change, infielder Delaney Spaulding homered to right to put team USA up 10-2 and take game one.
With Kelly Barnhill starting on the mound for team USA in game two, the squad took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after back-to-back base hits from Michelle Moultrie and Amanda Chidester.
To add to team USA’s 3-0 lead, Kasey Cooper hit a solo homerun on a 3-2 count in her final at-bat of the game, citing the hit as a memorable experience for her.
“I just had that confidence,” Cooper said. “It ended on a good note on this field.”
Cooper’s former teammates on the Alabama Stars team were not surprised at all by her performance with team USA.
“Typical Cooper, she’s awesome,” outfielder Victoria Draper said. “I wouldn’t expect any less.”
Auburn’s Ashlee Swindle started the game on the mound for the Alabama Star’s in game two of the night with Kendall Veach at catcher.
“It was just like old times during practice,” Swindle said. “I’d always throw live to her. She’s very competitive and a great hitter.”
After allowing no runs through four innings, Kelly Barnhill was relieved in the fifth by Jessica Moore for team USA. The nightcap ended early as Cooper and team USA defeated the Alabama Stars 7-0 in five innings.
After taking all four games in the exhibitions in Alabama this weekend, Cooper and team USA will now prepare to head to the Pan-American Championship Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in August.
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