After scary injury to pitcher, Auburn softball wins NCAA Tournament opener

After scary injury to pitcher, Auburn softball wins NCAA Tournament opener
Updated May 17, 11:06 PM; Posted May 17, 10:45 PM

Ashlee Swindle pitched 3.1 scoreless innings on Friday before being taken out after getting hit in the forehead by a line drive. (Auburn Athletics)
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By Sam Blum | SBlum@al.com

The good vibes of Auburn’s softball comeback suddenly ceased. The players on both teams were in a stunned silence as AU pitcher Ashlee Swindle lay on the ground in the circle. LINK
She’d been hit in the forehead by a line drive, and suddenly the the biggest game of the season didn’t feel so big. The CSU team all gathered in a circle to pray, and so did Auburn.
Swindle was carted off on the field. Her condition isn’t known and an Auburn team spokesman didn’t respond to a request for an update on her condition.

Auburn would finish off an impressive comeback, winning 10-5 over the Rams to open up the NCAA Tournament. They’ll face the winner of top-seeded Arizona and No. 4 seed Harvard on Saturday.
Swindle wasn’t slated to pitch on Friday. Her presence was needed after starter Chardonnay Harris was ineffective in her first inning of work, allowing five runs. Head coach Mickey Dean decided a change was needed.
She provided a calming presence. She pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, and would have done more. It was Harris that came back in to relieve Swindle, and was effective in her second go-round.
On offense, it was Alyssa Rivera that provided the thunder. After Harris allowed two home runs in the first inning, it was Rivera that came right back with a two-run homer. She finished 4-for-4 with a homer, double and two singles.
Tannon Snow gave Auburn its first lead in the fourth inning with a long two-run homer to dead center field.
Mackenna Dowell, who had five RBIs coming into the game, had two more in this game. Every batter outside of Morgan Podany had at least one hit.
The offensive boost was welcomed for Auburn, which had been in a massive offensive lull. Auburn hadn’t scored more than four runs in a game since April 12. The 10 runs had last happened on April 6. The Tigers batted just .144 over their last 11 SEC regular season games. Auburn finally put up some crooked numbers in this game.

But undoubtedly, the thoughts after this game will be on the health of Swindle. Harris will be asked to pitch more if she cannot return this weekend, and so too will Lexie Handley.
Swindle was helped to her feet, and covered her face as she was taken off the field. She wasn’t able to finish the game, but she was a huge part of why the Tigers won it.