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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.

No. 8 Auburn gymnastics posts program record score at SEC Championship

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 21

By Andrew Monson Sports Writer Auburn gymnastics placed fourth at the SEC Championship with a program record 196.925 on Saturday, March 21 in Duluth, Georgia. The fourth place finish is the highest for Auburn at the SEC Championship since 1993. Alabama placed first with a 197.525, followed by LSU’s 197.450 and Florida’s 197.400. Auburn began on floor, scoring a 49.075.

Gymnastics finishes fourth at SEC Championship, highest since 1993

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 21

Auburn finished on beam, where it scored a season-high 49.400 and were led by a 9.900 from Demers, Milliet and Megan Walker.

​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.

Auburn defeats No. 4 Vanderbilt behind performances from Deese, Thompson

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 20

Kyler Deese only went collected one hit in four at-bats Friday night, March 20, but that one hit was enormous. Faced with the bases loaded, two outs, and one of the country’s best pitchers in Carson Fulmer on the mound, Deese hit a rocket into left field, clearing the bases and giving Auburn a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Auburn women’s tennis falls to Texas A&M

By Patrick Lucas | Sports Writer | March 20

The Auburn women’s tennis team lost to Texas A&M 4-0 on Friday in the Tigers’ sixth SEC match of the season. Due to bad weather in the College Station, the women only played singles. The 30th ranked Aggies won four out of six of the singles matches including wins on courts one, two, four and six. Auburn junior Pleun Burgmans lost 6-3 6-4 on court one while freshman Andie Dikosavljevic lost 6-2 7-5 on the second court. Seniors Emily Flickenger and Jen Pfeifler lost on courts four and six to finish the day. The Tigers have lost their last three SEC matches, and will need a win in Baton Rouge Sunday, Mar.

Musically-inclined Graba builds gymnastics power

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 19

Since coach Jeff Graba’s arrival on the Plains in 2010, the Auburn gymnastics program has slowly improved year by year. Now, he’s a two-time SEC Coach of the Year, and the program has been firmly entrenched in the national top 10 all season. Senior Bri Guy, who was part of Graba’s first recruiting class, said she has enjoyed the process. “It’s crazy really,” Guy said.

Gymnast overcomes torn Achilles tendons in one year

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | March 18

For once in her life, Bri Guy, senior in physical activity and health, said she knew her stubbornness would pay off. Guy had torn both of her Achilles tendons in a floor routine against Alabama, but she didn’t know it immediately.

Auburn picks up two runs in the ninth to top UAB

By Derek Thompson | Sports Reporter | March 17

Auburn defeated UAB 6-4 Tuesday evening, March 17, at Regions Field in Birmingham. Keegan Thompson started at first base and recorded an RBI triple in his first at-bat of the season in the second inning.

Auburn defensive lineman set for first full season

By Patrick Lucas | Sports Writer | March 17

Last year’s Auburn team struggled to get to the quarterback. The leader in sacks among defensive linemen, DeVonte Lambert, is gone along with Gabe Wright and Angelo Blackson. Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Dontavius Russell will look to make those players’ departures the opportunity he’s waited a year to get a shot at. “Last year was difficult because I felt like I had the ability to play,” Russell said.

Auburn’s quarterback competition continues

By Patrick Lucas | Sports Writer | March 17

There’s no shortage of questions for Auburn’s football team and coach Gus Malzahn to answer this spring.

​Malzahn ready for Stevens to take next step

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 17

Auburn has a talented squad of receivers ready to catch passes this fall. Guys such as Ricardo Louis and Duke Williams, seniors with on-field experience, will no doubt be the leaders among the group, but there are a few players who are looking to have breakout years come August. One of those players is receiver Tony Stevens, a rising junior out of Florida, who so far in his Auburn career has six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Coach Gus Malzahn said the coaching staff expects Stevens to have more of an impact in 2015. “He’s one of the guys (where) we’re ready to take that next step,” Malzahn said.

Smith talks position change

By David McKinney | Assistant Sports Editor | March 17

Sophomore offensive lineman Braden Smith recently shifted in on the line, moving from tackle to guard. Smith, who stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 299 pounds, said he’s noticed some mechanical differences since the switch. “It’s a different experience,” Smith said.

​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.

​Auburn men’s golf ranked No. 4 in Golfweek’s national rankings

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 17

After winning its last two tournaments, the Auburn men’s golf team is currently ranked fourth by Golfweek, and All-SEC sophomore Matt Gilchrest is ranked eighth individually. Auburn is the highest ranked of the five SEC schools in the top 25, ahead of No.

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.

Auburn gymnastics drops to No. 8, but raises RQS

By Andrew Monson | Sports Writer | March 16

Auburn gymnastics fell one spot to No. 8 nationally in the Regional Qualifying Score rankings with an RQS of 197.025, breaking the program’s RQS record it set last week. Auburn raised its RQS with a score of 197.100 against North Carolina on Friday, March 13. This is the highest the Auburn program has been ranked this far into the season in the program’s history and the first time it has been in the top 10 leading into the SEC Championship. Auburn is the fourth-highest ranked SEC team behind No.

The Auburn Flyers; premier cycling group in Auburn

By Derek Thompson | Sports Reporter | March 16

After delivering Jimmy John’s sandwiches on his road-racing bike for a few months, Adam Hauser, senior in chemical engineering, joined the “premier cycling group in the Auburn-Opelika area for college students.” The Auburn Flyers used to not welcome beginning cyclists such as Hauser because they wanted a team with only the fastest cyclists, according to Flyers’ president Nathan Spence, junior in civil engineering. Since Spence took charge of the group in 2012, it is headed in a new direction. “I kind of wanted to take it in a direction that the past Flyers had not gone,” Spence said.