The Tigers sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth inning, recording three hits and taking advantage of two costly Hornet errors. Sacramento State starter Nicole Deatherage began the inning with a 2-1 lead, but gave up a double and a walk to begin the frame. Junior pitcher Brianne Ferguson was then inserted into the game. After a sacrifice moved the runners to second and third, Sara Ghezzi followed with an RBI-single which ended up scoring two runs after a throwing error from Hornet left fielder Stephanie Lockhart allowed the second run to score.

Later in the inning with one out, another Hornet error prolonged Auburn''s inning before Dean eventually put the game out of reach with a two-out, two-run double.

With the loss, Sacramento State dropped to 1-1 at the tournament and 4-7 overall this season. The Hornets have still won four of their last six after opening the season with a 2-5 record. With the victory, Auburn won for the eighth time in the last nine games while improving to 13-3.

Sacramento State has three games remaining at the tournament, including games against 16th-ranked Oregon (10 a.m.) and Iowa State (12:30 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The Hornets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings on a wild pitch scoring sophomore Lindy Winkler and an RBI-double from junior Erin Coyne, respectively. Sacramento State left seven runners stranded during the first five innings before Auburn''s Kristen Keyes worked a perfect sixth and seventh inning in relief.

Auburn starter Holly Currie (4-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings. Deatherage (1-3) picked up the loss after giving up three runs and seven hits in five innings. Ferguson allowed two hits and three unearned runs in two innings of relief.

Sacramento State was held hitless over the final four innings of the game. The Hornets have now committed 10 errors over their last four games after committing just three errors during the first seven games of the season.