Auburn defeats UCLA in the WCWS (post-game presser)
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Unlike last year, Auburn has started off on the right foot at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The fourth-seeded Tigers stormed out of the gate against No. 12 seed UCLA Thursday afternoon by scoring five runs in the opening inning and never looked back for an 10-3 win. Kaylee Carlson pitched a complete game for Auburn and kept UCLA at bay, aside from a three-run home run in the third inning. "I thought we played very well," said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. "I thought (Carlson) did an outstanding job. Had one little hiccup there in the middle, but it's how you finish. she threw zeroes the rest of the way.". Auburn advances to the winner's bracket Friday to face No. 16 seed Georgia, which has been on a tear as of late. The Bulldogs eliminated two-time defending champ Florida in super regional play last weekend before knocking off No. 8 Florida State in the first game of the WCWS. Rewind: Auburn 10, UCLA 3. Rewind: Auburn 10, UCLA 3. AL.com is on hand in Oklahoma City. UCLA starter Selina Ta'amilo threw just 13 pitches before she was relieved on the mound. She loaded the bases by hitting Tiffany Howard with a pitch, allowing a double to Kasey Cooper and walking Carlee Wallace before hitting Jade Rhodes for Auburn's first run. Auburn's Haley Fagan added an RBI sac fly off of Bruins reliever Paige McDuffee, who then hit Madi Gipson and Whitney Jordan with pitches for to give Auburn a 3-0 lead. A throwing error to first base gave the Tigers a 5-0 advantage before UCLA's nightmare opening inning came to an end. Emily Carosone's two-run RBI in the third inning pushed Auburn's lead to 7-0. UCLA responded in the bottom of the inning with a three-run home run off of Auburn starter Kaylee Carlson to make it 7-3. Fagan batted in another run in the bottom of the fourth with a double that allowed Rhodes to score. Cooper added a pair of insurance runs with a two-run RBI in the sixth. Auburn and Georgia are set to face off at 6 p.m. Friday. The Tigers swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series April 22-24 on the Plains. Cooper hit a three-run walk-off homer for a dramatic finish in Game 1. Auburn won Game 2, 13-2 and Game 3, 2-1..