The Auburn softball team won a pair of games in the first day of the War Eagle Classic, highlighted by junior pitcher Anna Thompson’s school-record 18 strikeout performance in a 4-0 victory over Middle Tennessee on Friday night.

Auburn improved to 13-1 with the wins. The Tigers return to action today with a 3 p.m. game against Austin Peay.

“Obviously, the job Anna did tonight was just phenomenal,” Auburn head coach Tina Deese said.

“Our pitching has been good all year and tonight was no exception.”

Against Middle Tennessee, Thompson set a school record with 18 strikeouts, eclipsing the previous high of 17 set by Kristen Keyes in 2004.

The first 14 outs of the game for Middle Tennessee were all strikeouts, with only two batters reaching base via an error and a walk.

Thompson did not surrender a hit until a leadoff single by Brittany Banania in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the day’s first game, Auburn beat Winthrop, 1-0.

Equestrian team recognized by state
The Auburn equestrian team has been very successful in the arena, but it is what the Tigers have done in the community that is being recognized.

Alabama Sen. Ted Little recently awarded several community service grants and announced two budget line items for Auburn University.

The awards were presented at the Jules Collins Smith Museum and each recipient was on hand to personally accept their check.

In all, during this presentation Sen. Little awarded and announced monies for Auburn University totaling $151,500, but due to the present state of the economy, the budget items are subject to a 9 percent proration.

Women’s tennis to host UAB, GSU
The 27th-ranked Auburn women’s tennis team will host UAB and Georgia State for a doubleheader today at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The Tigers will first take on UAB at 10 a.m., followed by a 4 p.m. match against Georgia State.

“We have two solid opponents in this weekend and we recently saw them both here in Auburn in January,” head women’s tennis coach Tim Gray said. “I’m sure both teams will be focused and ready to play. We were a little disappointed after some of our recent close losses, but the team has bounced back during the last two weeks of training, and I feel we are eager to compete.”

The Tigers (1-4, 0-0 SEC) are returning to action after being idle last week and will look to get back on a winning track. Auburn lost back-to-back road matches to Texas A&M, 5-2, and TCU, 4-3.