AUBURN, Ala. – It was a low-scoring affair Thursday evening at Jane B. Moore Stadium as the Jacksonville University softball team faced off against Auburn University in game one of the Tiger Invite. Playing each other for the second time in five days, the Dolphins (3-6) were seeking to knock off the Tigers (6-1) but were held in check at the plate by Auburn pitching being held to four hits in a 2-0 loss.
The Dolphins got their first baserunner of the game in the first inning when
Victoria Rodebaugh singled to left center with one away, but nothing would come of it as she would be stranded at first to end the inning.
The Tigers scored the game's first run in the second inning, as a two-out triple to right field chased home the runner from second that had reached via a base hit with one away in the inning.
Ju had their best scoring opportunity of the evening in the third inning. Following a leadoff walk by
Madison Reynolds,
Makenzie Buss reached on a bunt single to third. A throwing miscue on the play allowed Reynolds to advance to third and put runners on the corners with no outs. A groundout to the catcher allowed Buss to advance to second with one away and set the table for a big inning, but Auburn was able to escape the inning unscathed behind back-to-back strikeouts.
Auburn took their momentum from the top of the inning and was able to convert it into an insurance run in their half of the third. Following a leadoff single and a groundout, a triple to right center plated another run to make it a 2-0 game.
Samantha Poehlman led off the Dolphin fourth with an infield single and looked to lead a response in the inning, but again JU was turned away in the inning by Auburn.
Poehlman reached base again in the seventh on a bunt single to lead things off and look to start a rally, but the Dolphins' next three batters were retired in order to end the game.
Alyssa Bilodeau (2-4) was charged with the loss, allowing two runs in her six innings of work while striking out three against one walk and six hits.
The Dolphins will be back in action bright and early on Friday, taking on IUPUI in a doubleheader starting at 10 AM ET.
