Auburn Softball vs Arizona Super Regional Game 3 Highlights
Texas A&M vs. Auburn Softball
Auburn outfielder Victoria Draper (27) dives for and makes a catch in the outfield Friday, May 6, 2016, during an NCAA softball game against Texas A&M at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) ORG XMIT: ALBIN (JULIE BENNETT)
Auburn center fielder Victoria Draper made a spectacular diving catch during a Women"s College World Series semifinal game against Florida State on Sunday.
With Auburn leading 7-4 in the top of the sixth, Florida State had two on and one out with Morgan Klavemann hit a 3-2 pitch to left-center field.
Draper ran to her right and went airborne to make an incredible catch for the second out of the inning.
FSU loaded the bases but Rachael Walters got out of the jam to keep the Tigers ahead 7-4.
That SportsCenter Top 10 catch? That leaping, over-the-wall, bring-that-back, season-saving grab by leftfielder Tiffany Howard? That had to be the best Auburn catch since the Prayer in Jordan-Hare.
That clutchest of clutch hits? That first-pitch, last-pitch, game-winning grand slam by Emily Carosone? That had to be the best Auburn hit since Carl Lawson stonewalled Alabama on fourth-and-1 as a prelude to the Kick Six.
That epic comeback? Falling behind by a quick touchdown, bouncing back to tie, then winning 11-7 in eight innings to force a winner-take-all national championship Game 3 against Oklahoma in the Sooners" back yard?
That had to be the best Auburn comeback since the Camback.
You say softball isn"t football? You"re right, it"s not, not in terms of ratings and revenue, but when it comes to drama, heart and big-time players rising to big-time moments by making big-time plays, nothing beats Auburn softball these days.
These Tigers are one win away from a national title, but they"ve already put together a second straight season to remember.
It tells you that coaching matters. The surest way to compete for national championships is to hire a coach who"s won one. At least.
In almost no time at all, Clint Myers has proved to be the best hire in Auburn history. He arrived on the Plains three years ago with two big rings from Arizona State, and he"s led the Tigers to the Women"s College World Series twice.
Last year, the run ended in the semifinals. Now they"re one circus catch, clutch hit and epic comeback away from becoming the first Auburn softball team and just the third SEC team - after Alabama and Florida - to win it all.
You don"t have to fully understand softball to appreciate what this team has accomplished. You can be a football or basketball fan and understand what it means never to yield.
You can even be a football or basketball coach.
Gus Malzahn and Bruce Pearl showed their appreciation Tuesday night. Auburn"s football and basketball coaches were there in the stands in Oklahoma City, standing, cheering and smiling as the Tigers matched the biggest comeback in Women"s College World Series history while snapping Oklahoma"s 31-game win streak.
Malzahn has been in this position himself, twice, helping prepare a team on the day of a national championship game. He"s been a part of two Auburn teams that will go down in history for making indelible memories.
Add this Auburn softball team to that list, no matter the final score tonight.
