Blue Raiders Fall to Auburn in Doubleheader

MARIETTA, Ga.- Middle Tennessee (3-6) dropped a two game series 13-1 and 7-0 to Auburn Friday in the first day of the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic.

The Blue Raiders ran into a buzz saw when the team faced Auburn. The Tigers, who are receiving votes in the NFCA improve to 21-5 on the season with the sweep.

Game 1: Auburn 13, Middle Tennessee 1

Freshman Kayla Sparks hit the first homerun of her career, and the first for the Blue Raiders this season, to avoid being shutout against Auburn in the first game. With two strikes, and two outs Sparks hit a shot over the left centerfield wall to give the Blue Raiders a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Middle Tennessee held Auburn scoreless in the first inning but the Tigers exploded in the following four innings to win the opener 13-1. Auburn took the lead in the top of the second from a solo homerun by Paige Jones. It was one of two homeruns Jones notched in the game as she went 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Auburn exploded for seven runs in the third inning, batting around and also had three extra base hits. The Tigers added three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Senior hurler Crystal Bobo had her three game winning streak snapped as she fell to 3-2 on the season. Bobo tied her season-high with four strikeouts against the Tigers.

Middle Tennessee' s Jennifer Grybash, Candis Littrell and Leah Grothause each had hits in the game.

Game 2: Auburn 7, Middle Tennessee 0

Freshman hurler Ashley Katinas tossed two innings of scoreless ball before the Tigers struck in the top of the third inning. Auburn plated three runs in the third inning and added three more in the fourth off a three run homer by Sara Dean. Nicole Russo added another Auburn homerun in the sixth.

Middle Tennessee twice had the bases loaded in the game but couldn't capitalize on the opportunities. The Blue Raiders first chance came in the bottom of the first inning but a ground out and a base runner caught stealing ended the threat. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Raiders had the bases loaded and one out but a ground out and pop up halted the team's scoring opportunity.

Katinas tossed five innings in the game allowing six runs on 10 hits and struck out three and took the loss to fall to 0-4. Bobo closed out the game in the final two innings, allowing one run and two hits.

Jennifer Dorais led the team at the plate going 2-for-3.

Middle Tennessee returns to action on Saturday at the Buzz Classic. The Blue Raiders will take on Georgia Southern at 10 a.m. and Iowa at 5 p.m.

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