Despite a strong pitching performance by Ashlee Swindle in which she only allowed one earned run, Auburn lost 2-0 in its final game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, on Sunday.
The first three innings saw a combined four base runners and two hits, where both hits belonged to Auburn. The two hits were the only hits the Tigers had on the day. Despite only having two hits, Auburn had two chances to score with runners in scoring position.
The first opportunity came in the top of the first, when Maddison Koepke singled with one out. The freshman earned her first career stolen base when she stole second with two outs, and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Illinois catcher Bella Loya. Haley Nillen then struck out swinging on an 0-2 count to end the chance.
Auburn’s second chance came an inning later, when Justus Perry walked and Makenna Dowell singled up the middle with two outs. Jaylin Calvert then grounded out to first.
“We were chasing at balls all day – not every batter, but I would say 10 out of the 12 batters that we used,” Auburn head coach Mickey Dean said. “We knew the pattern going in. We just didn’t execute.”
The ability to score with two outs proved to be the difference in the game, as both of Illinois’ runs came with two outs. However, the Illinois offense was unable to get anything going until the fourth inning.
Swindle had gone three and two-thirds innings before allowing her first hit for Auburn. The first hit for the Fighting Illini was a big one in a game where runs were scarce. Illinois’ Shelby Stauffenberg drove in Avrey Steiner, who had reached on a fielding error, on an RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. This put Illinois up 1-0 heading into the fifth.
Dowell earned a 1-out walk for Auburn in the top of the fifth, but any chance for Auburn to tie the game ended when Brittany Maresette grounded into a double play to end the half inning.
In the bottom frame of the fifth, Kelly Ryono doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. It then looked as if the Tigers could escape the scoring threat when Maddison Demers grounded out to second for the second out of the inning, but that was not the case. The next batter, Kailee Powell, singled to left field and drove in the second run of the game for Illinois.
Both teams went three-up, three-down in the sixth, and Auburn was retired in order in the top of the seventh to close the game.
“We’ve got to get better every day," Dean said. "You’ve got to own that, and if not – what do you need to do to change that? We work on things. We know what we’re supposed to do.”
Auburn (3-2) now heads back to the Plains to face Kennesaw State in its home opener on Thursday night at 6 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
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