Auburn rallies late to edge Dogs
Auburn first baseman Jade Rhodes’s heart sunk for just a moment as she waited, wondering if she had made one of the biggest mistakes of her life.
Soon she realized that instead she brought home the eventual game-winning run in the Tigers’ 4-3 comeback victory against Georgia in their second game of the Women’s College World Series on Saturday night.
With runners on first and third and one out in a 3-3 game in the top of the seventh, Rhodes brought in Kasey Cooper, beating out a double play with on a fielder’s choice groundout to second.
The play caused much confusion as Rhodes was called out after she vacated the base and then was physically assisted by first base coach Scott Woodard on her way back to the bag. However, the run still stood because Cooper scored before the incident occurred.
“I did kind of like throw my hands on my helmet like, ‘Oh, what did I just do,”’ Rhodes said. “I did realize that the run counted, and my coaches gathered me and said ‘look we just need three outs.’”
The victory keeps No. 4 seed Auburn (56-10) in the winners bracket where the Tigers move one win away from advancing to the WCWS final. Auburn will face either Michigan, Florida State or Oklahoma at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
No. 16 seed Georgia (46-19) will face No. 10 seed LSU at 3:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
“I’m pumped,” said Auburn left fielder Tiffany Howard, who scored the game-tying run in the seventh. “I’m so excited. Just to think if we just win three more games, it’s mind blowing.”
Auburn trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh before the drama ensued.
After the the first two batters reached to start the inning, Cooper delivered an RBI single through the right side to cut the lead to 3-2. Emily Carosone tied the game the next at bat, again finding a hole between first and second.
During Rhode’s fielder’s choice, Carosone was called out for running out of the base paths. However, the senior’s ability to avoid a tag from Georgia second baseman Alex Hugo allowed Rhodes enough time to beat out the would be double play.
“I knew if I could get her to hesitate for just a second, Jade could be safe and Cooper could score,” Carosone said. “I said, ‘If that ball is hit to Hugo, I’m getting her to tag me.’ I was willing to say ‘Hey, hey, hey, right here, right here!’ I was going to get her to come after me so Jade could be safe.”
Rachael Walters (11-3) earned the win in relief of starter Makayla Martin, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk while striking out two batters over five innings.
Chelsea Wilkinson (28-8) recorded the loss, giving up four runs, one earned, on seven hits and a walk while striking out five batters over six innings.
The win marks the fourth time Auburn has beaten Georgia this season, as the Tigers swept the Bulldogs during a three-game series in April. In three of those games, Georgia had a lead entering the sixth inning.
This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Auburn rallies late to edge Dogs."