Auburn Sweeps Tide Softball in Final Regular Season Series
5/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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AUBURN -- The Auburn Tigers (37-23, 15-15 in the Southeastern Conference) completed a three-game sweep of the No. 15 ranked (USA Today/NFCA) Crimson Tide softball team, taking the third and final game of the series 3-2.
Alabama (44-17, 22-8) had several scoring opportunities but was never able to come up with the key hit, stranding nine runners including five runners in scoring position.
For the third time in the series and the fifth consecutive game, the Tide got their lead-off batter on with Jackie Wilkins being hit by a pitch followed by an infield single from Suzanne Olcott. Jackie McClain advanced the runners with a long fly ball to centerfield followed by a strikeout by Ashley Courtney. Capper Reed drew a two-out walk to load the bases but Lacy Prejean hit a long fly ball to right field that was caught to end the Tide threat.
Auburn claimed an early lead when Sara Dean hit a two-out double down the right field line scoring Ashley Moore from second for a 1-0 Tiger lead.
Auburn tacked on two more runs in the second on a bloop single to centerfield that scored Kim Freeland, who was pinch-running for Martha Phillips. Ashley Moore then doubled off the wall in right-centerfield scoring Shannon Anderson for a 3-0 Auburn lead.
The Tide cut into the lead in the top of the third loading the bases with one out. Olcott and McClain drew back-to-back one-out walks and Ashley Courtney reached on a fielder's choice when she hit a slow roller to Phillips, who threw to third to try and force Olcott, but the throw was wide and Olcott was safe. Reed struck out followed by a single up the middle by from Prejean scoring Olcott. Emily Currie, who was running for McClain at second was waved home, but was thrown out at the plate for the third out.
Alabama further cut into the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Courtney reached on a one-out single and came in to score on a two-out double to right-centerfield by Prejean making it a 3-2 game, but Bama could not scratch out any more runs.
Shelley Laird took the loss for the Tide dropping her record to 24-10.
Auburn has now posted four straight wins over the Tide including the Tigers first series sweep over Alabama. The last three regular season series between the two schools have been sweeps, with Alabama sweeping Auburn in 2000 and 2001.
Alabama will be in action again in the first round of the 2002 SEC Softball Tournament which is set to begin on Thursday, May 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tide, who will be the No. 3 seed, will take on No. 6 seed Arkansas in the first game of the tournament scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
