Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
A spirit that is not afraid

No. 23 Auburn splits opening-day doubleheader

“It was a quality win, which is big,” head coach Mickey Dean said. “We did a lot of things right, but there are still things we need to work on. We may not be our best in the beginning, but we want to be our best at the end of the season.”

<p>Alyssa Rivera (21) celebrates after a hit during Auburn Softball vs. South Carolina, on Friday, April 12, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.</p>

Alyssa Rivera (21) celebrates after a hit during Auburn Softball vs. South Carolina, on Friday, April 12, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.

Game 1: With Auburn starting their 2020 softball campaign in Clearwater, Florida, the team looked to find a hot start despite being written off by SEC preseason rankings.

Senior pitcher Ashlee Swindle took the mound for the Tigers in their first game of the day against Baylor. Despite struggling with walks in the first two innings, Swindle was able to keep Baylor scoreless. 

In the third, Baylor’s bats opened up and they scored five runs before Lexie Handley came in replacement on the mound. Auburn’s bat remained cold all game as Baylor added another run in the 4th inning off of Handley and two more in the 5th inning off of Samantha Yarbrough. 

After Baylor went up 8-0 in the 5th, the game was declared a run-rule final.

Game 2: After a disastrous start to the season against Baylor, Auburn bounced back and got off to a quick start against Notre Dame, scoring its first run of the season in the first inning. 

Abby Tissier singled to left and Tyler King scored to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Lexi Handley started Game 2 and produced 5 and 1/3rd innings of shutout softball before Ashlee Swindle came in for relief in the sixth inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Katie Marino bunted for a single to drive in Leea Hanks, evening the score at 1-1. In the top of the seventh, Auburn capitalized on a couple of Notre Dame errors as Justus Perry, Brittany Maresette and Tyler King all scored unearned runs. 

Swindle retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out Auburn’s first win of the season. Swindle earned the win and finishes the day with a 1-1 record. 

“It was a quality win, which is big,” head coach Mickey Dean said. “We did a lot of things right, but there are still things we need to work on. We may not be our best in the beginning, but we want to be our best at the end of the season.”

No. 23 Auburn (1-1) is back in action Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m CST against Liberty followed by a game against Texas State at 11:30 a.m. CST. 


Share and discuss “No. 23 Auburn splits opening-day doubleheader” on social media.