College and Magnolia - 2016 NCAA Softball Tournament Story StreamAt the corner of Auburn and the Internethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48507/collegeandmagnolia_Fav.png2016-06-14T16:41:18-05:00http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/rss/stream/115035052016-06-14T16:41:18-05:002016-06-14T16:41:18-05:002016 AU Softball: Reflecting on an Amazing Season
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<figcaption>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</figcaption>
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<p>The season is over. Let's remember it. </p> <p>Before I even begin, I have to say that there's no way I can offer as impressive a retrospective on the 2016 Auburn Softball season <a href="http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2016/06/heres-another-quarter-yes-i-wish-to-continue/">as the one that Jerry Hinnen wrote</a>. That is a fantastic look back at the season and what it meant.</p>
<p>So what more can I add? Similar to Jerry, I don't have enough of a background in softball to offer serious analysis. I didn't start really paying a lot of attention to the softball team until late in the 2015 regular season. I remembered Clint Myers' hire and their first run to the Regionals in 2014 and knew they were going to be good, but it wasn't until the SEC Tournament in 2015 that I really started to watch.</p>
<p>I learned something during that post-season. Something reinforced during this year's incredible run through the Women's College World Series: College softball is a whole lot of fun to watch.</p>
<p>The average ground ball in baseball results in an out, it seems. I don't know the specifics in softball, but ground balls are far more likely to result in infield hits in softball. The shorter base paths made the game seem so much faster and every minor mistake is magnified. Because of that, fortunes and games can change in the smallest of moments.</p>
<p>Look no further than Auburn's comeback against Oklahoma in Game 2 of the WCWS. In a way, it's almost a shame that softball has the Mercy Rule because runs can be made up so quickly and momentum swings so fast that you never fully feel comfortable with any score if you're in the lead.</p>
<p>The last two seasons have really made me go from someone only passingly interested in softball because an Auburn team played it to being a full-on Softball Fan.</p>
<p>You can call me a bandwagon fan for that, and you'd be partially correct. Sure, I jumped on the bandwagon when the team started winning. I'm not going to jump off, though. Even with the score 7-0 in that Championship Series and the hour getting late with a 4:40am wake-up ahead of me for PT on Annual Training, I wasn't about to miss a moment. I knew those girls had it in them to come back from anything, and they did just that.</p>
<p>This season gave us so many great moments. Kasey Cooper's walk-off against UGA. The winning streak during SEC play. The SEC Tournament run. Tiffany Howard's home run in the SEC Championship and then her Grand Slam in the NCAA Tournament. The Super Regional doubleheader. The late-inning rallies in the WCWS. The catches. The walk-off Grand Slam. The Jade Rhodes home runs It was all just so much fun.</p>
<p>My heart breaks for the seniors on this team who came so close. As Jerry pointed out in the article above, the difference between Auburn and Oklahoma in that championship series was so small. I would put the difference at one player. Auburn has a staff of VERY good pitchers, but Oklahoma's Paige Parker was just something special. I really think a pitcher with any less skill and Auburn wins the Championship. Hats off to Parker for an amazing performance all season long and particularly in the Championship Series.</p>
<p>Thanks to Jade Rhodes, Emily Carosone, Tiffany Howard, Kelsey Bogaards, Lexi Davis, Marcy Harper, Rachel Walters, Madison Dickey, and Maria Mitchell for your years here at Auburn. We loved watching you play and the legacy you've built.</p>
<p>One thing is for sure. Auburn making it to the Women's College World Series last season was no fluke. Making it this season and going through the winner's bracket to the Championship Series was no fluke. Clint Myers has built something very special at Auburn, and it's only going to get better. The foundation that the 2015 and 2016 teams have built is strong in itself. When you add the Myers Family's coaching ability to it, the possibilities are endless.</p>
<p>If you're an Auburn fan who didn't watch any of this season, be sure to catch them this fall during the fall schedule. Make it to Jane B. Moore for a game next season - if you can get a ticket to games which regularly sell out, now. If there's one great thing about the SEC Network, it's that Softball is so accessible to everyone, now. Almost every game is broadcast, somewhere. Give them a game or two and I guarantee you that you'll be hooked.</p>
<p>2014 was the teaser. 2015 was the preview. With 2016, Auburn Softball announced to the world that it is a power that is here to stay. I, for one, can't wait to see where it goes from here.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/14/11936526/2016-auburn-softball-reflecting-on-an-amazing-seasonWalt Austin2016-06-08T20:17:55-05:002016-06-08T20:17:55-05:00Auburn Falls to Oklahoma 2-1 in WCWS Finale
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<figcaption><a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11978697.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>In a match between two of the best teams in the nation, it all came down to just a few plays. </p> <p>For the third game in a row, Auburn let Oklahoma jump out to an early lead, and that was all the difference.</p>
<p>After Auburn went down in order in the Bottom 1st, Oklahoma managed to get runners aboard and get two across the plate for the 2-0 lead thanks to two errors by Auburn. Those were the only two runs they would score.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, with Paige Parker in the circle, that was all they would need.</p>
<p>It wasn't that Auburn didn't get to Parker. The Tigers had base runners often throughout the night. At one point the Tigers had bases loaded with no outs and the heart of the lineup at the plate. A strikeout and double-play later and OU escaped with no damage.</p>
<p>The Tigers' biggest play of the night was a Jade Rhodes bomb to deep left field that cleared the bleachers. Unfortunately, it was a solo shot that only cut the lead in half to 2-1.</p>
<p>Auburn had other opportunities, but there was nothing doing for the Tigers as Oklahoma's stellar defense made the plays necessary to shut Auburn's offense down most of the night.</p>
<p>For Clint Myers' Tigers, what a ride its been. He arrived three years ago and told his team they would play for it all. They did just that and came so close to taking down Oklahoma and winning it all this season.</p>
<p>For the seniors, who signed with Auburn before Myers arrived, I'm sure this has been even crazier. They formed the leadership of this team and took them to the highest point this team has ever been. They came up just a little bit short. That doesn't take away from the foundation that they've built, though.</p>
<p>In Myers' first season at Auburn, he took them to the NCAA Regional. In Year 2, Auburn came up just shy of the Championship Series and fell in the semis. In Year 3, they made it to the final game and came up just short of the title. It's safe to say they'll be back. And soon.</p>
<p>War Eagle. Always.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/8/11890740/auburn-falls-to-oklahoma-2-1-in-womens-college-world-series-finaleWalt Austin2016-06-08T05:08:41-05:002016-06-08T05:08:41-05:00WCWS Finale: Thoughts and How to Watch It
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<img alt="Whitney Jordan hits a 3-run homer to start the Auburn come-back Tuesday night." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Hi4-QtJgFucE-NU2vkcw6viO3sA=/0x13:600x413/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49798639/11977690.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Whitney Jordan hits a 3-run homer to start the Auburn come-back Tuesday night. | <a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11977690.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>It's come to this. One game for the Championship. </p> <p>I've never been happier to have to stay up late for the third night in a row to write these "How to Watch" posts before getting up to do very early PT at Ft Stewart and avoid the Ft Stewart heat. Auburn Softball has continued to shock and amaze us, and I'm not sure we should really be all that shocked and amazed, anymore. We should just expect the unbelievable.</p>
<p>Auburn <a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/6/11873786/auburn-drops-game-1-to-oklahoma-3-2-in-the-womens-college-world">failed to stage the complete come back</a> in Monday's Game 1 of the Women's College World Series. They went into last night needing to win or else the season would be over. It looked bad, early, as OU jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Auburn then did what they did best: <a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/7/11880868/auburn-stages-amazing-comeback-defeats-oklahoma-11-7-in-game-2-of">took the other team's best punches and then set in with the haymakers of their own</a>.</p>
<p>That has been the theme of this season. Every time Auburn gets knocked down, they get back up and hit back even harder. They've come back from every adversity imaginable. That goes for the team as a whole and individual players. Whitney Jordan has struggled at times with errors at inopportune moments. Every time she responds by locking down clutch plays and doing things like hitting a 3-run home run.</p>
<p>The standard joke for Auburn fans has been that it's not Auburn sports without serious stress all the way to the end of the game. The softball team has often exemplified that, this season, and yet it's been such an amazing and fun ride.</p>
<p>Now we'll do it one last time with everything on the line.</p>
<p>It's the last game of the year; can't hold anything back, now.</p>
<p>You can guarantee that Oklahoma ace pitcher Paige Parker - who did not pitch last night - will start tonight. Unless Auburn can figure her out, she'll pitch the whole night. Who will Auburn go with? I wouldn't be surprised if it's Rachel Walters or Makayla Martin. It could be Lexi Davis, who did well Monday night other than one bad pitch. Both teams are going to be going all out with every bit of emotion going through them to get the win.</p>
<p>This two game series has already been amazing. I would be shocked if tonight is any different.</p>
<p>Of course, Auburn, if you really want to continue the trend in just the right way at just the right time, you'll shock me and win this one with ease. That would be nice.</p>
<p>It's going to be fun. You shouldn't miss it. Drop whatever else you have tomorrow night barring threat to life, limb, or eyesight, and watch this game. Be at Jane B Moore Field if you're in Auburn. I can't stand that I'm on Annual Training and missing that. Find a bar. Find a watch party. Watch these ladies for every minute - no matter how the game is going - because I guarantee you it will be fun and you will marvel at something they do.</p>
<p>War Eagle, ladies. Go get 'em.</p>
<h3>How to Watch:</h3>
<p><b>Time:</b> 7:00pm Eastern / 6:00pm Central</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> ESPN</p>
<p><b>Stream: </b>WatchESPN</p>
<p><b>In Auburn:</b> Go watch it at Jane B. Moore Field on the video board!</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/8/11881040/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-3-womens-college-world-seriesWalt Austin2016-06-07T22:12:40-05:002016-06-07T22:12:40-05:00WHAT A COMEBACK! AUBURN WINS GAME TWO 11-7!!!
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<img alt="Tiffany Howard with the amazing grab. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UX9Pifc7zWedO4rSr8umvr9q1hs=/0x15:600x415/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49798391/11977702.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Tiffany Howard with the amazing grab. | <a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11977702.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>WHAT. A. GAME. </p> <p>Every game has seemed to have a theme of come backs for Auburn in this year's NCAA Tournament. From early in the Regional, to falling down a game in the Super Regional, to the UGA game, the near come-back by FSU, and then last night's near come-back.</p>
<p>Tonight, early, it looked as if this game would be a bit too much for the Tigers to fight back from. Oklahoma took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st, and then blew the doors open in the Top 2nd scoring 6 runs thanks to home runs and sacrifice bunts. With the score 7-0, it looked like Oklahoma was set to cruise to the National Title.</p>
<p>A funny thing happened, though. Auburn forgot they were supposed to roll over and play dead. That's what dogs do. Not cats. Certainly not Big Cats.</p>
<p>With 2 outs in the Bottom 2nd, Auburn started a rally. Whitney Jordan hit a 3-run home run. A Tiffany Howard triple scored one more, and then Kasey Cooper drove in another run and suddenly the score was a much more manageable 7-5.</p>
<p>Rachel Walters came on during that big 2nd inning for Auburn and really settled Auburn down, not allowing the Sooners to threaten again for quite some time. Then, in the Bottom 4th with Auburn still down by two, Tiffany Howard beat out an infield hit and Kasey Cooper stepped to the plate. The Oklahoma pitcher hung one over the plate and Cooper did what Cooper does.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THIS. Kasey Cooper's TWO-RUN SHOT for <a href="https://twitter.com/Auburn_Softball">@Auburn_Softball</a> TIED it 7-7! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCWS?src=hash">#WCWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/gwmwz2HBJX">pic.twitter.com/gwmwz2HBJX</a></p>
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAAsoftball/status/740362077793984512">June 8, 2016</a>
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<p>Oklahoma put something together in the Top 6th, getting a runner aboard. Rachel Walters threw Shay Knighten one of her few bad pitches and Knighten looked to have put the Sooners back on top by 2 runs. Tiffany Howard had other ideas, though.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tiffany Howard has got ups. Robs a 2-run HR to keep it tied. <a href="https://t.co/LPlicqUumE">https://t.co/LPlicqUumE</a></p>
— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesCrepea/status/740369411685634053">June 8, 2016</a>
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<p>Victoria Draper's catch against Florida State was amazing. Athletically, it was probably the more impressive catch, though this one was unbelievable in its own right. Howard's, though, may have been the most clutch. Howard climbed the ladder at just the right moment and absolutely robbed Oklahoma of the lead in an elimination game.</p>
<p>Auburn put runners aboard in the Bottom 6th, but couldn't do anything with it. Oklahoma put a runner on in the Top 7th, but also couldn't do anything with it. Nor could Auburn in the Bottom 7th.</p>
<p>Auburn shut Oklahoma down in the Top 8th and went into the Bottom 8th hoping to pull it out. What happened next was amazing.</p>
<p>With the first batter in the Bottom 8th it looked like more of the same. Then Victoria Draper beat out a throw on an in-field single. Tiffany Howard followed with a hit. Oklahoma walked Kasey Cooper. With one out and needing just one run to extend the series, the Oklahoma pitcher put the ball right where Emily Carosone wanted it.</p>
<p>She walked it off with a Grand Slam. 11-7. We'll see you tomorrow night.</p>
<p>This is the very definition of an Instant Classic. What an amazing game.</p>
<p>HOLY #$%$^@$^%@# Y'ALL!!!! WHAT A COME-BACK!!!! WHAT A GAME!!! WHAT A TEAM!!!! WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/7/11880868/auburn-stages-amazing-comeback-defeats-oklahoma-11-7-in-game-2-ofWalt Austin2016-06-07T05:03:02-05:002016-06-07T05:03:02-05:00How to Watch WCWS Game 2: Auburn vs Oklahoma
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IeWTtbZTteKts0YnxUB6Mmj71zc=/0x84:599x483/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49791169/11976485.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption><a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11976485.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>Auburn's back is against the wall and the Tigers need a win tonight to extend it to Game 3. </p> <p><b><i>Update: Hi there! You may have come looking for the information to watch Game 3, the finale, whereas this is the Game 2 Preview/Game time. The game time is a bit different, but the other information is the same as below. To get all of the correct information and see what we wrote about Game 3 specifically, </i></b><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/8/11881040/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-3-womens-college-world-series" style="background-color: #ffffff;"></a><b><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/7/11874282/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-2-womens-college-world-series">click this link!</a> <i> War Eagle!</i></b></p>
<p>One bad pitch and a failed late rally and the Auburn Tigers find themselves in a hole. It's not an unfamiliar position for the Tigers, though. It's also one in which they've thrived.</p>
<p>Auburn has bounced back strong following most all of their few losses this season. When Arizona won Game 1 of the Super Regional, Auburn won two games in a row to clench the trip to Oklahoma City.</p>
<p>Now, the Tigers find themselves with the ultimate back-to-the-wall scenario. It's the Championship Series. Win tonight and Auburn will play Oklahoma with everything on the line tomorrow night. Lose tonight, and the Tigers go home.</p>
<p>Oklahoma is a very tough and well-coached team. Auburn didn't crack Paige Parker until the final inning. Even though they put runners on board in nearly every inning, they couldn't get runners advanced and across the plate. Parker has pitched every inning for Oklahoma, so far. It's to be expected she will do the same, tonight.</p>
<p>That's an advantage for Auburn. The Tigers have been excellent at adjusting to pitchers they see more than once. Parker now has three games in three days under her belt, and she's got to be a bit fatigued (even though Auburn didn't force her to throw too much, last night). Auburn relied on Lexi Davis, who hadn't pitched at all in the WCWS, for the entirety of the game. That means the Tigers have Marcy Harper who still is 100% fresh to go along with Kaylee Carlson, Makayla Martin, and Rachel Walters who have now had a days rest. OU hasn't faced any of those three. Auburn faced Parker last night and you see by the end they were figuring out how to get the bat on the ball.</p>
<p>If I had to guess, I'd say Kaylee Carlson gets the start, tonight. We'll see, though. Everything is on the line. Auburn knows they can hang with this team and that they can win anything. They just have to go prove it to the world.</p>
<h3>How to Watch:</h3>
<p><b>Time:</b> 8:00pm Eastern / 7:00pm Central</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> ESPN</p>
<p><b>Stream: </b>WatchESPN</p>
<p><b>Watch Party:</b> If you're in Auburn, get to Jane B. Moore Field and watch the Tigers on the video board!</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/7/11874282/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-2-womens-college-world-seriesWalt Austin2016-06-06T21:02:27-05:002016-06-06T21:02:27-05:00Auburn Drops Game 1 of WCWS 3-2
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<figcaption><a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11976488.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>It was a great game with fantastic pitching on both sides. At this level of the game, it all comes down to who blinks and makes one mistake. Tonight, it was the Tigers. </p> <p>One swing of the bat can make all the difference. Tonight was the ultimate proof of that.</p>
<p>Senior Lexi Davis, who had not pitched during the College World Series so far, got the start for Auburn. She pitched a fantastic game overall except for one bad pitch to Sydney Romero that resulted in a 3-run home run to give the Sooners a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning.</p>
<p>Auburn managed to get base-runners on in almost every inning, but struggled to do anything with it. The game began with Kasey Cooper getting on board, but she was thrown out at 3rd trying to stretch a play that probably should have been left alone. Auburn struggled most of the night at the plate.</p>
<p>That is, as has so often happened, until the end of the game. With the score 3-0 and Auburn down to its last three outs, the Tigers got a runner on 1st and Jade Rhodes launched a bomb to deep center field to make the score 3-2. An error on the pitcher put two runners in scoring position with only one out.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. On a hit to 1st, the Oklahoma 1st baseman threw home to get the out at the plate. Tiffany Howard popped out to end the game, and Oklahoma took Game 1 with a score of 3-2.</p>
<p>Winning 2 against Oklahoma was always going to be tough. Now Auburn has to try to do it twice in a row. The Tigers are on the ropes with the season on the line.</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/6/11873786/auburn-drops-game-1-to-oklahoma-3-2-in-the-womens-college-worldWalt Austin2016-06-06T05:49:41-05:002016-06-06T05:49:41-05:00WCWS Championship: Game 1 How to Watch & Preview
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<img alt="Rachel Walters" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x82T8krwYPO50tyM_JzLa-nZjBc=/0x13:600x413/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49782097/11975424.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Rachel Walters | <a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11975424.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>It's down to the Tigers and the Sooners in Oklahoma City for the Championship. </p> <p><b><i>Update: Hi there! You may have come looking for the information to watch Game 3, the finale, whereas this is the Game 2 Preview/Game time. The game time is a bit different, but the other information is the same as below. To get all of the correct information and see what we wrote about Game 3 specifically, </i></b><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/8/11881040/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-3-womens-college-world-series"></a><b><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/7/11874282/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-game-2-womens-college-world-series">click this link!</a> <i>War Eagle!</i></b></p>
<p>Clint Myers promised his team when he arrived on campus that they would play for the Women's College World Series Championship. Now, in his 3rd year at Auburn, his girls are doing just that.</p>
<p>A dramatic come-from-behind win over UGA Saturday night and then a back-and-forth see-saw of a game against Florida State last night has put the #4 Tigers into the Championship Series against #3 Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated LSU 7-3 late last night to begin the Championship Series today.</p>
<p>The Championship Series is Best of 3. If one team wins Game 1 and 2, the series is over. If the teams split Game 1 and 2, then Game 3 will be played Wednesday night.</p>
<p>If you're wondering just how good the Sooners are, they haven't lost a game in over two months. Their last defeat was a 5-2 loss to Kansas on April 2nd. They are on an unbelievable hot streak and have defeated Alabama, Michigan, and LSU to get to the Championship Series.</p>
<p>They've also done it all on the arm of ace Paige Parker. No other Oklahoma pitcher has thrown a pitch in the College World Series. You'd have to think her arm is exhausted right now, but Oklahoma has been going through numerous methods to rest her arm. That includes driving her back to Norman - a short trip from Oklahoma City - to use their team's own facilities.</p>
<p>Normally I would have a stats comparison as I've done for every game in the NCAA Tournament. However, for the life of me, I can't find a comprehensive stats page on <a href="http://www.soonersports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&SPID=127251&SPSID=750353&KEY=">Oklahoma's softball website</a>.</p>
<p>The Sooners will be the toughest test Auburn has faced this season. They're winners of 26 straight, feature one of the best pitchers in the nation, and a number of fantastic batters, too.</p>
<p>It's a safe bet Auburn will face Paige Parker in Game 1 tonight. Just who Auburn will put on the mound is still up in the air. All three of Auburn's primary pitchers - Kaylee Carlson, Makayla Martin, and Rachel Walters - pitched a few innings last night against Florida State. They've all been pitching throughout the Women's College World Series and the NCAA Tournament. Carlson started and finished last night, so my bet would be on either Walters or Martin.</p>
<h3>How to Watch Game 1</h3>
<p><b>Time:</b> 8:00pm Eastern / 7:00pm Central</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> ESPN</p>
<p><b>Stream:</b> Watch ESPN</p>
<p><b>If In Auburn:</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/AuburnTigers/status/739647253946699776">Go to the watch party at Jane B Moore Field and watch it on the outfield video board!</a></p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/6/11865930/how-to-watch-auburn-vs-oklahoma-womens-college-world-seriesWalt Austin2016-06-05T21:12:30-05:002016-06-05T21:12:30-05:00VICTORY! Auburn Is In The Championship Series!
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<img alt="Carlee Wallace is welcomed home after hitting a 3-run home run in the 1st inning. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WSdaNT0KiB8uWPxwTVlLPJa4huY=/0x0:598x399/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49780055/11975100.0.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Carlee Wallace is welcomed home after hitting a 3-run home run in the 1st inning. | <a href='http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-softbl/auto_player/11975100.jpeg'>Dakota Sumpter / Auburn Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>Auburn goes deep three times and advance to the Women's College World Series Championship for the first time in school history. </p> <p>The name of the game was the long ball, and it was the usual suspects behind it for the Tigers.</p>
<p>After FSU took an early 1-0 lead in the Top 1st, the Tigers put two runners on base and little Carlee "Clutch" Wallace came through in the post-season as she has often done and launched a 3-run shot to give the Tigers the 3-1 lead.</p>
<p>FSU powered back, though, cutting Auburn's lead in the 2nd, then tying up the game. In the 3rd FSU took a brief 4-3 lead thanks to some errors and mistakes by the Tigers that the Seminoles took advantage of. Things were looking a bit sketchy for Auburn at that point in the game.</p>
<p>The game turned in the Bottom 3rd, though, as Carlee Wallace and Emily Carosone got on base and set up an opportunity for Jade Rhodes. She took full advantage of it, launching an absolute blast to deep left field to give Auburn the 6-4 lead. The ball was hit so hard that Jade knew it was gone from the moment it left the bat.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CRUSHED IT! Jade Rhodes sends a no-doubter over the left field fence for a three-run BOMB! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCWS?src=hash">#WCWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/JeZQHzUU2B">pic.twitter.com/JeZQHzUU2B</a></p>
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAAsoftball/status/739614967444299777">June 6, 2016</a>
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<p>For the first time in the game, the Tigers got the Seminoles 3-up/3-down in the Top 4th. Auburn came to bat and quickly got two outs as Victoria Draper and Tiffany Howard both popped out. Then Kasey Cooper came to the plate. It has so often seemed this year that when Jade or Kasey hits a home run, the other responds. Kasey did just that, launching her 20th home run of the season to break the Auburn record and give her yet another place in the Tigers' record books and giving Auburn the 7-4 lead.</p>
<p>FSU rallied in the Top 6th, putting two runners on base and threatening. With 1 out, a ball was hit into the gap in left center that looked destined for a multi-base hit. Victoria Draper wasn't having any of that, though. Draper made a spectacular diving grab that deserves to be on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">INSANE GRAB VICTORIA DRAPER!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCWS?src=hash">#WCWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCTop10?src=hash">#SCTop10</a> <a href="https://t.co/XvQ1F7yq5F">pic.twitter.com/XvQ1F7yq5F</a></p>
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAAsoftball/status/739627141055143938">June 6, 2016</a>
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<p>The inning wasn't over, yet, though. The Tigers loaded the bases with FSU bringing Alex Powers, the ACC's Player of the Year to the plate. Rachel Walters worked her into an 0-2 count that feature foul ball after foul ball until finally getting her to pop out into left field for the final out of the inning.</p>
<p>It wouldn't be Auburn sports without a little drama, though.</p>
<p>Auburn couldn't add any insurance in the Bottom 6th, but went into the Top 7th with Rachel Walters back on the mound. The Seminoles put the first batter on base, then a walk, then a 3-run home run for Florida State tied the game at 7 for the Seminoles with no outs. The Seminoles managed to load the bases with 2 outs for Alex Powers to come to the plate yet again. Fortunately for Rachel Walters, Powers grounded out to Whitney Jordan to end the inning.</p>
<p>There was nothing doing for the Tigers in the Bottom 7th, and the game went to extras. The Seminoles got the first batter on with a walk, advanced her to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, and then Kaycee Carlson sat the next two batters down on strike outs.</p>
<p>In the Bottom 8th, Madi Gipson got things started with a hard hit ball into left field that bounced off the left fielder and sent Gipson all the way around to 3rd with no outs. Whitney Jordan came to the plate next and chopped a ball to third. Morgan Podany, pinch running for Gipson, was sent home on the play and barely slid around the tag of the FSU catcher to give Jordan the fielder's choice RBI and the Auburn victory!</p>
<p>With the win, the Auburn Tigers advance to the Championship Series for the first time in school history. They will play the winner of the Oklahoma/LSU series. Game 1 of that series is played immediately following tonight's Auburn/FSU game. If LSU wins that, Game 2 will be played tomorrow evening, with the Championship Series pushed to Tuesday. Should Oklahoma win tonight, Auburn and Oklahoma will start the Championship Series tomorrow night.</p>
<p>What an amazing ride this season has been. Auburn Softball is 2 wins away from a National Championship. Finish the drill, ladies!</p>
https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2016/6/5/11863894/auburn-defeats-fsu-advances-to-womens-college-world-series-championshipWalt Austin