http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/w-sof...15aab.html
AUBURN'S DEEP PITCHING READY FOR SOFTBALL SUPER REGIONAL
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
Corey Myers has lots of good options in post-season play.
He has a pitcher who has won 22 games. He has another pitcher who has a team-best 2.88 ERA. He has another who can start or relieve.
Who's kidding who? Lexi Davis, Marcy Harper and Rachael Walters have all started, all relieved, and give Auburn plenty of depth heading into Friday's softball NCAA Super Regional against Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m. at Jane B. Moore Field. Myers, the Tigers' pitching coach, is ready for it all as the NCAA Tournament continues.
"Having the option of these pitchers gives us the matchups," he said. "Probably more than any team in the country, we play the lefty-lefty, righty-righty matchups.
"That just gives us the ability if we need to put somebody in for one or two batters, they're able to do the job."
Let's take a trip down memory lane, or at least look at Auburn's current six-game winning streak, to get an idea how the Tigers use their pitchers:
•Davis started the last game, Walters won in relief
•Harper went the distance for the win
•Walters started, Davis won in relief
•Davis started, Walters won in relief
•Harper went the distance for the win
•Walters started, Davis won in relief
That's also how you win the SEC Tournament title two weeks ago and how to start NCAA play with three straight wins last weekend.
Myers said his pitchers have done well whatever their role.
"That just gives us the ability if we need to put somebody in for one or two batters, they're able to do the job," Myers said.
"We've been much better when there's a little bit more pressure for our relievers. They've been a little better coming in with people on base than to start an inning."
Louisiana-Lafayette comes in with big bats to challenge Davis, Harper and Walters. The Ragin Cajuns lead the nation with 112 home runs.
"We've come up against a lot of good-hitting teams," Myers said. "We have to limit their home runs to solo home runs, and the pitchers have to stay away from allowing crooked numbers. Two and three-run innings make it tough to come back and win."
Myers' scouting report on his pitchers goes like this:
"Lexi brings experience," he said. "She's the only one of the three that has any real post-season experience from last season. That gives her confidence in knowing she's been there before, and she's been in tough situations."
Myers said he's letting Harper do her thing. "I try not to talk to her. Whatever she's doing right now is working, and I just try to let her do her thing. She's had three great weeks."
He said Walters' success has been "just a matter of being confident.
"Right now, the way all three have thrown, I'd have no doubt I could start any of the three."
The Myers Family approach to pitching begins with defense, and Auburn has one of the best in the nation.
"When you're not a high strikeout team when you're a team that pitches to contact, you're not going to throw a lot of shutouts," Myers said. "I've been so impressed with how we turn double plays to get us out of jams. The defense should be credited with the shutout, not the pitchers. Our pitchers know we try to get our defense involved
. But Conference teams winning helps in recruiting and Conference perception.