CLEARWATER, Fla. – Auburn softball opened up the first game of a double header this Saturday at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational against the Charlotte 49ers. The game was a long, arduous battle, but the Tigers emerged victorious 14-11.
The game got off to a quick start, as Auburn’s Icess Tresvik took Charlotte’s Avery Shamblin deep on just the second at-bat of the game. The Tigers would add another run in the top of the inning after KK McCrary scored on a wild pitch from Shamblin to give Auburn a 2-0 lead.
However, Charlotte did not take the early runs lying down. The 49ers ambushed Auburn pitcher Malayna Tambora, scoring six runs off of the sophomore. The first two runs scored on an RBI single by Kari Shedrick and an Auburn error. The next four runs were delivered on one emphatic swing from Savanna Nguyen, a grand slam.
The top of the second looked much like the top of the first for Auburn, as the Tigers scored two more runs. Those runs came off the bat of Tresvik once again, her second homer of the day in just her second at-bat. The 49ers responded again in the bottom of the inning via a Teagan Ritchie sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 7-4.
Amelia Lech then answered Charlotte’s sac fly with one of her own in the top of the third inning, driving in KK McCrary to draw the Tigers within two heading to the bottom of the third. Auburn would hold the 49ers scoreless for the frame, the first zero put up on the scoreboard all day.
Then, in the top of the fourth, the Auburn lineup went nuclear. Abbey Smith opened the inning with a single, and then promptly stole second base. Nelia Peralta singled, driving Smith to third. Icess Tresvik and Anna Wholers then walked, with Wholers’ free pass driving in Smith. Skylar Elkins put the exclamation point on the frame with a grand slam, the second of the game between the two squads, to give Auburn a 10-7 lead.
The Tigers’ pitching staff would hold strong for the next two innings, keeping Charlotte off the board in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Auburn would also go scoreless in the fifth, but added a single run in the top of the sixth courtesy of an RBI single by Amelia Lech that scored Georgia Lessman and extended the Tigers’ lead to 11-7.
However, Charlotte was not done yet. The 49ers drew within three runs after a wild pitch by Haley Rainey scored Olivia Williams. Teagan Ritchie then walked, putting two runners on for Jenna Lord. Lord delivered for Charlotte, drilling a three-run homer to tie the game at 11 heading into the final inning.
Auburn came out swinging in the seventh, as Abbey Smith delivered yet another leadoff single. Nelia Peralta followed with a strikeout, but Icess Tresvik was able to draw a walk to put two runners on for the Tigers. Next up was Anna Wholers, and the senior delivered, lacing a double down the right field line that scored both runners. KK McCrary then followed up with an RBI single of her own, bringing Wholers home to extend the lead to 14-11.
Auburn pitcher SJ Geurin would allow just one hit in the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Tigers to secure the win despite Charlotte’s best efforts.
Auburn will have to rest up quickly, as the Tigers are back in action later this afternoon vs Oklahoma State. The game can be found on WEGL 91.1 FM in conjunction with the Auburn Sports Network.
