Just for a moment the Thursday matchup between Auburn and UCLA, the most historic softball team in the nation, looked out of control. It wasn’t just because Auburn put up five runs in the first, either.
In 25 pitches, the combination of UCLA pitchers Ta’Amilo and McDuffee walked one, gave up a Kasey Cooper double, and hit four batters. Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Auburn batters were hit at the plate by two different Bruin pitchers…in the first inning. Amazingly, Emily Carosone, who was hit by 24 balls in 2016 wasn’t one of them.