Box Score The Alabama State softball team fell short 9-6 in a hard fought game to Auburn at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex on Wednesday evening. With the loss, the Lady Hornets dropped to 1-15 on the season.
“We came out real aggressive, ready to play today,” assistant coach Kevin Montgomery said. “The girls were loose and came out motivated. They also wanted to piggy-back off Coach Hall's absence. We started out well, but we just couldn't finish. We did everything we could to beat them, but that one inning cost us the ballgame.”
“You can't make those kinds of mistakes against a team like Auburn and think you're going to win. You have to constantly try to be the best team you can be to beat a team of high caliber team like Auburn.”
Brehanna Rodrigues singled to shortstop to start a four run, first inning rally. After advancing to second on a throwing error and scampering to third on a single to left field by
Meagan Dixon, Rodrigues scored the first run of the game on a RBI single up the middle by
Aleesa Yanez. Dixon scored next on a RBI fielder's choice by
Kim Ross.
Stephanie Hernandez and Ross added the final two runs of the inning, unearned making it a 4-0 ballgame.
“We juggled the line-up around to place
Tamara Williams in between our two hitters to try to generate more activity in the top half of the lineup,” said Montgomery. “Everyone started executing real well on offense, and it worked out for us. The ladies were making plays and getting on base for us tonight. We batted around for the first time this season as well, so I thought that was a plus.”
ASU scored two more runs in the bottom halves of the second and fourth innings, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Tigers.
AU began chipping into the lead by scoring one run in the second, third, and fourth innings, before busting the game wide open in the sixth, scoring six runs capping the 9-6 ballgame.
Melissa Christmann went five innings, gifting six hits, four runs, and a strikeout, while
Bailey Patt took the loss in the effort for ASU.
“Melissa did a great job out there on the mound for us,” Montgomery stated. “The entire pitching staff stepped up today. I just told the girls to go out there and give us their best and let the defense pick up the slack behind you. I just wanted the pitching staff to help us stay in the game, and that's what they did.”
Alabama State will travel to compete in the Tennessee State tournament Friday-Sunday, March 8-10 at Tiger Field in Nashville, Tenn. First pitch between the Lady Hornets and the University of Indiana is set for 2 p.m.
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