Play Concludes For The Orange At The NFCA Leadoff

Sunday, March 2

Columbus, Ga.

12:30 p.m.

Syracuse University

Auburn (NFCA Leadoff)

Chanel Roehner tallied her 141st career hit with a single against Auburn.

Play Concludes For The Orange At The NFCA Leadoff

3/2/2008 2:29:17 PM | Softball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The final day of competition at the NFCA Leadoff resulted in a 6-0 setback for the Orange against Auburn. Senior outfielder Chanel Roehner and Rachel Tilford each produced hits for the Orange. Roehner singled in the third for her seventh hit of the season, while Tilford doubled in the sixth for her second two-bagger of the year.

"There are still many positives that came out of this weekend," said head coach Leigh Ross. "We played five of the best teams in the nation and started to see what some of our student-athletes can do. The teams that we're facing will only make us stronger come BIG EAST play."

The Orange started defensively with a diving catch in shallow center by Roehner, but the Tigers quickly loaded the bases and scored one run on a sacrifice fly by senior Jorja Bell. A grounder to sophomore pitcher Brittany Gardner ended the inning with two runners left on base.

In the second, Gardner orchestrated a three-up-and-three-down with putouts by Roehner, freshman leftfielder Rachel Helman and freshman first baseman Tawni Irvine and SU started to rally in the top of the third. Junior second baseman Lindsay Wasek reached first and advanced to second on a seeing-eye single through the left side by Irvine. The Orange momentum halted after Helman lined to third and Wasek was gunned down for the double play. Roehner answered with a single, but Auburn senior pitcher Brittany Day got her team out of the jam, leaving two stranded.

A three-run, two-out homerun by Bell in the bottom of the third and two runs in the fourth increased the Tigers' lead to 6-0.

In the sixth, Tilford doubled for the second time this season and put runners on second and third for junior catcher Amy Kelley, who grounded up the middle but a running grab and throw by Auburn freshman Megan Mitchell beat Kelley to first.

A walk and an error put Irvine and Helman on base with one out in the top of the sixth and a groundout by Roehner advanced the runners into scoring position. A can of corn by Tigers' senior Brittany Scott ended the game.

Gardner pitched 6.2 innings, striking out two and allowing four hits and freshman Angie Sagnelli was credited with the loss and is now 0-5. Auburn (15-3) senior Brittany Day pitched 7.0 innings and is now 3-1 and improved her team's record to 15-3.

The Orange (0-13) travels to the USF Invitational on Friday, Mar. 7 through Sunday, Mar. 9 and will face Sam Houston, Kennesaw, Indiana, Quinnipiac and Fairfield before single elimination begins.