Not only did the Auburn Tigers face elimination on Tuesday night, but while they were tasked with trying to snap a 31-game win streak that their adversaries from Norman held with them, they were also facing the reality of their season coming to the end. The Oklahoma Sooners were one win away from winning the national championship, but as the game played out on Tuesday night in OKC, it seemed that Auburn wasn't ready to go down yet.
The Sooners put up seven runs in the first two innings. A six run-explosion highlighted the second inning with fielder's choices ruling the inning as well as a throwing error, a few singles, and a home run. Auburn was down 7-0 but the bats would come alive in the second inning in response. Five runs were plated in the inning, chief among them a three-run home run by Whitney Jordan. A triple by Tiffany Howard, who would make one hell of a cameo later on in this feature film-like affair would plate another and SEC Player of the Year Kasey Cooper knocked in another after.
Cooper would square up and come up big in the following inning. She'd belt a two-run home run to tie the game, bringing Auburn all the way back after finding themselves deep in a 7-0 hole after just the first two innings of play.
For the following three innings, these teams would play, and barely flinch. Shay Knighten, who has been delivering body blows with the best of 'em in this year's NCAA Tournament and WCWS, looked to do it yet again as she stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning. However, Tiffany Howard had other ideas.
WOW! Tiffany Howard robs a home run to keep the game tied! #WCWS pic.twitter.com/SJSCtenbqA
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) June 8, 2016
(h/t Evan Petzold)
If things are to transpire in good fortune for the Tigers, Howard's robbery of Knighten's near-homer could go down as one of the greatest plays in Auburn softball history. Heck, maybe even in the program's history should they go on to win their first-ever softball championship.
Auburn's triumphant comeback was capped off in the bottom of the eighth inning. Emily Carosone stepped up with the bases loaded, and connected with the knockout blow.
Game 2. Extra innings. Grand slam. Walk off. #WCWShttps://t.co/KZNpWcSYTq
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) June 8, 2016
(h/t NCAA Softball)
Carosone would fearlessly drive the ball over the fence to walk it off, grand slam style, to give Auburn an 11-7 victory in an instant classic.
Auburn and Oklahoma face off in the deciding Game 3 on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET. If the first two games are any indication, you won't want to miss it.