So long to the Auburn baseball season. The Tigers are crushed today at home to a poor Alabama squad, getting swept in a loss that ends our chances of postseason play. Yes, I'll say it: Talk of a regional is laughable. Why have hope for this baseball program? Maybe a miracle is possible in Gainesville or Hoover. But as I've said before about getting a regional, I'll believe it when I see it. Shame on me for believing this late in the season. Shame on me for believing the pundits who said we had locked up a regional. Shame on me for thinking baseball had improved. I won't be fooled again.
Marcy Harper
dominated on the mound and Auburn got big hits and big times to beat
Alabama 7-1 at Tiger Park at Baton Rouge on Friday and advance to the
Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game for the first time
in school history.
Marcy Harper did not issue a walk in earning her 11th win. (Photo: Auburn University)The
No. 5 Tigers, the No. 2 seed, came to make amends for losing two of
three to Alabama at home in April. And they did. Alabama scored 31 runs
in the regular-season series, but Harper made sure it would be different
on Friday.
Auburn improved to 48-9 and will play the winner of Friday’s
semifinal game between No. 1 seed Florida and No. 5 seed Tennessee for
the championship on Saturday. Alabama finished the regular season 42-12.
Harper went the distance, giving up four hits, to improve to 11-4. And she did not issue a walk.
“It’s a great feeling,” Harper said. “I couldn’t do it without my
teammates. I was just hitting my spots. I had my defense behind me. I
had the most confidence in them.”
The Tigers took advantage of eight free baserunners on five walks and three batters.
Branndi Melero had two hits, including a two-run double. Emily Carosone had two hits and scored three runs. Kelsey Cooper had two hits. Haley Fagan had one and drove in two runs.
Alabama starter Leslie Jury gave up five runs on four hits in two innings and took the loss. Sydney Littlejohn gave up two runs on six hits.
At this point we look forward to hosting Alabama in baseball this weekend, the Tigers seeking to solidify a future NCAA bid, our softball playing Alabama today in the SEC Tournament with an NCAA bid sewn up. The football players start summer workouts and soon we will start looking forward to the 2015 season. Let it come!
I'm writing this as the game winds to an end in the 4th quarter. I saw Jovon Robinson early but not much after that. Roc Thomas put on the best show at running back. He's a homerun hitter for sure. Jeremy Johnson will clearly be the starting quarterback. Duke Williams will make some spectacular catches next year. On the radio Quentin Riggins gushes about the defense. We'll have depth we haven't had in recent years on that side of the ball, and players are rushing to the football. We could have a very good football team next year.
