STARKVILLE — Friday was a pretty good day at the office for the Auburn softball team.
After defeating No. 5 seed Alabama earlier in the day, No. 4 seed Auburn knocked off No. 1 seed and top-ranked Florida 2-1 in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Nusz Park.
Auburn advanced to the title game for a second-straight season. A year ago, Auburn beat Tennessee to win the title.
“In my 40 years of coaching, this may be our two best wins, in relation to the caliber of the opponent,” Auburn coach Clint Myers said. “To win two games like this in the space of about six hours is pretty much amazing. Really proud that we rose to the challenge and played this well.”
Kaylee Carlson, a sophomore transfer from North Carolina, held the nation’s top offense to one run and five hits in her seventh complete game. Carlson (15-1) struck out two and walked two.
“This is why I (chose Auburn),” Carlson said. “I wanted to play in games like this. This is what this program is all about. Playing in this tournament, you are going to play the best teams in the nation. We just showed we are ready to compete with the best teams in the nation.”
After striking for four runs in the first inning en route to a 6-4 victory against Alabama on Friday morning, Auburn scored two runs in the first inning against Florida, as Kasey Cooper doubled and Carlee Wallace homered with two outs.
“We have a quick-strike offense,” Carlson said. “It changes how you feel on the mound when you see runs in the first inning like that. Florida has a great lineup, so we knew how big a challenge this would be. With my defense playing behind me, I just wanted to throw strikes and make them put the ball in play.”
Auburn junior infielder Kasey Cooper said the momentum from the victory against Alabama helped paved the way for a second victory against the two-time reigning national champions this season.
“We really had a lot of confidence from earlier (a 5-4 win at home) against Florida,” Cooper said. “Then to come out and start strong against Alabama really helped us. We know any team in the SEC can win a game, as long as they have outs to work with. We just did a great job of limiting (Florida’s) opportunities.”
With a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of 8 entering the tournament, Auburn hopes victories against Alabama and Florida nailed down a national seed and the right to play a regional and super regional at home.
In his third season, Myers has reversed Auburn’s fortunes. A two-time national champion coach at Arizona State, Myers guided Auburn to its first super regional and Women’s College World Series berth a season ago.
“The team really grew from that experience,” Myers said. “You have to learn how to win. Then you have to learn how to win the game. Then you have that belief you are going to win the big game. You can tell we came in here with a belief today. Those are two great victories. We had as good a day as you can have in softball today.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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