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Softball tops UAB for second time this season

April 8

Before heading off to College Station this weekend, the Tigers hosted UAB at home for their second match this season and took their second victory against the Blazers Wednesday afternoon, April 8. Two major back-to-back plays for Kelsey Bogaards at short, and a catch from Branndi Melero ended a quick and easy first half inning on defense. The Tigers had a rough start at bat as Tiffany Howard’s hit was caught for an out, and Emily Carosone suffered a pitch to the back, but Kasey Cooper stepped up to drill one over the fence, making her fifteenth homerun. The two runs from Cooper’s homerun hit would be the only ones the Tigers would plate in the first. “I wouldn’t say we struggled,” coach Clint Myers said.

Melero named SEC Co-Player of the Week

April 6

With her homerun against no. 11 Tennessee this weekend to clutch the win for the Tigers, senior Branndi Melero claims the co-player of the week title alongside Bailey Landry of LSU. Melero is known for her strength in the batter’s box and her efficiency on defense as right fielder. She falls into the five-hits-or-more club in this weekend’s series next to Kasey Cooper and Morgan Estell, and is credited for seven homeruns this season alone. Melero stands with 39 RBI for a .348 average, making her no.

Melero homerun secures Auburn softball win over Tennessee

April 4

In the second straight sold out game of the season, the Tigers headed into the third and final match of the Tennessee series 1-1. Auburn had a shaky start as the Vols brought in 6 runs in a two-outs rally in the first inning.

Softball falls to Tennessee in second series game

April 3

Auburn softball fell to no. 11 Tennessee, 8-6 in its second match of the weekend’s three-game series after a nail-biting finish Friday, April 3, at home. The loss broke the team’s spotless home-field record of 21-0 for the 2015 season. The Vols took the lead in the first half-inning with a homerun by Gretchen Aucoin after Tiffany Howard’s first left field catch of three total throughout the game. At bat, the Tigers couldn’t muster a run, and gave the inning to Tennessee, 1-0. The Tigers wouldn’t respond until the bottom of the second with Jade Rhodes’ sixteenth career homerun this season, tying the game 1-1. In the third, Emily Carosone’s hit merely missed the right-field wall and gave her a double, bringing in Tiffany Howard for another point on the board. Kasey Cooper then nailed a pitch to center field for a single that allowed Carosone to plate another run, giving Auburn their first lead of the game, 3-1. The Tigers didn’t hold on to the lead for long, when Tennessee’s Scarlet McSwain nailed one over the fence to plate three for the Vols. No response came from the Tigers directly after at bat as Auburn headed into the fifth trailing by one, 4-3. Although the Tigers held Tennessee on defense in the fifth with Lexi Davis on the mound, opposing pitcher Rainey Gaffin dished out three straight strikeouts to Howard, Carosone and Cooper. “We knew coming in what she threw,” said coach Clint Myers.

Softball kicks off UT series with win

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | April 2

Softball kicks off UT series with win By David McKinney Assistant Sports Editor Even without the long ball, the Auburn softball team found a way to win Thursday night, April 2.

Auburn responds to first SEC loss with Missouri victory

April 1

The No. 8 Tigers are now 35-4 after defeating the No. 20 Missouri Tigers in an away match Sunday afternoon, March 29. Both Tigers battled back-and-forth for the lead throughout the game, with a standstill tie at 4-4 in the sixth inning.

Softball climbs rankings to No.7

By Lauren Christopher | Sports Editor | March 31

With this weekend’s wins against the team’s third SEC opponent, Missouri, the Tigers have beaten themselves at No.8 and jumped to the seventh spot nationally in this week’s list. Inching closer to the top five, Auburn stands with a 35-4 record overall, including eight conference wins out of nine total games. Also, as of Monday, March 30, Auburn claims the third spot in the NCAA Softball RPI rankings with the help of its powerhouse-batting lineup, as well as its ability to hold the opposing defense. The Tigers will return to their home field for the first time in almost two weeks Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m.

Softball drops first SEC game

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 28

For the first time this season, Auburn softball left an SEC game without a victory. In a game that stretched into eight innings, Auburn found itself on the wrong end of a walk-off homer that gave Missouri a 5-4 win.

​Softball Mercy Rules No. 20 Missouri

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 27

Another SEC series started off on a high note for No.8 Auburn softball Friday night. The Tigers (34-3) picked up the 14-6 win in five innings behind a powerful offensive performance and a solid outing from winning pitcher Lexi Davis.

​Softball takes loss and victory at FSU

March 26

After claiming the eighth spot in the NFCA top ten, Auburn snapped its eight-game winning streak in the first match against FSU on Wednesday night, March 25 in Tallahassee, losing 10-7. The double-header then turned around with a win for the Tigers in the second match, 10-4; the first time Auburn has defeated FSU since 2011. For only the third time in the 2015 season, the Auburn offense did not hit a single home run, but did manage to score 10 runs off of nine hits, including four RBI from Branndi Melero and two RBI from Haley Fagan. On defense, Rachel Waters toughed out a full seven innings of game play, only giving up three runs from the Seminoles at bat. As far as game one goes, the Tigers were able to bring in three runs early on, but couldn’t respond to the seven FSU rounded by the bottom of the second inning. Jade Rhodes gave hope to the team in the third hitting her 15th, nation-leading homerun that brought in three more, but the Seminoles answered with an additional three to end the game, 10-7. The Tigers now stand at 33-3 and will take on Missouri in a weekend series starting Friday, March 27 at 6:30 pm.

Softball rises to No. 8 in NFCA rankings

March 24

Auburn currently also claims the No. 4 spot in the NCAA Women’s Softball RPI with a spotless record in SEC play, 6-0.

Softball makes second SEC sweep against Kentucky

March 21

After returning home from shutting down Ole Miss last week, the Tiger’s brought their success back to Jane B.

​Softball gets win No. 30

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 20

The bombs keep dropping. With her 11th homer of the season, Kasey Cooper put Auburn's softball team out in front of No.12 Kentucky 2-0 in the first inning Friday, March 20, and the Tigers never looked back. Jade Rhodes 13th dinger of the year came in the fifth, and Auburn added two more runs the sixth inning. But it wasn't just the hitting that pushed the Tigers to 30-2 (4-0 SEC). Lexi Davis was in control of the game all night, allowing just five Kentucky hits while improving to 13-0 on the season. Saturday, March 21, the Tigers and Wildcats will meet twice, first at 3 p.m, and again at 6 p.m.

​Softball makes history with top-10 ranking

March 17

For the first time in the program’s history, Auburn has made the first top-10 ranking with their 26-2 record.

Softball sweeps Ole Miss

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 16

The first SEC series of the year couldn't have gone any better for the Auburn softball team. The Tigers mercy ruled the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi, on Monday, March 16, by a score of 10-2. Auburn sent three homers over the fence on the day, including back-to-back shots from Branndi Melero and Haley Fagan in the third, putting the Tigers up 4-0.

Softball wins first SEC series

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 15

Auburn softball’s early success continued into conference play this weekend, as the Tigers took their first SEC series of the year with their second straight win over Ole Miss on Sunday, March 15. The Tigers wrapped up the series with a 7-3 win over the Rebels.

Softball beats Ole Miss for first SEC victory

March 14

In the softball team’s first SEC season match, the No. 12 Tigers defeated the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Saturday night, March 14. The on and off rain couldn’t stop the offense, which dominated throughout the game, calling the run rule at 14-3.

Softball previews first SEC opponent

March 13

Lauren Christopher At a 23-2 record, the Tigers have brought their softball program to new heights as a powerhouse so far in the 2015 season. Most opponents have been breezy for the team, which now stands twelfth in the NCAA rankings, recently taking down number 13, Arizona, but the stigma connected with an SEC against SEC match brings pressure for Auburn’s performance. The team is set to compete against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night, March 14, who not only shares conferences with Auburn, but also the experience of a new coach. Head coach Clint Myers said, “They’ve got some things that they’re trying to change for this weekend.