Money shot: Haley Fagan blasts Auburn past former team

AUBURN – Talk about payback.

Haley Fagan, who helped lead South Alabama to a Sun Belt Tournament title and NCAA Regional as a true freshman in 2013, reminded her former squad what they lost and exacted some revenge on the program that wouldn't release her from scholarship, forcing Fagan to walk on at Auburn while sitting out last season.

The Auburn shortstop blasted a solo home run to left field and Marcy Harper tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Tigers to a 1-0 victory over the Jaguars in the NCAA Regional winner's bracket game at Jane B. Moore Field Saturday afternoon.

Fagan's 13th home run of the season came on an inside pitch from Devin Brown (11-5), who allowed just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Though Fagan, who hit .352 with a team-high 11 home runs for South Alabama and was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2013, said she had "nothing but respect" for her former teammates and program, she couldn't entirely mask her satisfaction.

"Having a history with the program and everything," Fagan said after clearing her throat when asked about not being released from her scholarship by the USA staff. "I'm just happy we won, I'm just going to leave it at that."

Auburn (51-9) advances to the NCAA Regional Finals, where it'll face South Alabama at noon today.

After a laborious 33-pitch first inning with a hit and walk, Harper (12-4) settled in and didn't allow a hit and issued three walks in the final six, retiring 10 straight at one point.

"It was superbly pitched by Marcy," Auburn coach Clint Myers said. "She was tremendous all game long, made pitches when she had to, kept them off stride."

Harper worked into and out of a jam in the first, issuing a lead-off walk to Emily Messer, who stole second. An infield single by Stephanie Pilkington gave the Jaguars two on and one out but Harper was able to retire the next two batters, including slugger Kaitlyn Griffith, to get out of the first.

"We had a different game plan after the first inning than what we had originally started with," Harper said.

Auburn's bats remained cold as the Tigers failed to get a hit until the start of the fourth inning for the second straight day, a 0 or 18 stretch with three walks.

In its last three games, Auburn has combined for three runs on two hits during the first three innings of each contest.

Myers classified his team's offensive struggles as more mental than physical.

"There could be an experience problem, but they need to understand that what we're doing here is no different than the SEC Tournament," Myers said. "One of these days it's going to break loose and when it does it's going to be beautiful to watch.

"And I hope it's tomorrow."