AUBURN, Ala. – Senior Lindsey Garcia delivered with a clutch solo home run in the sixth inning to cut it to a one-run game, but No. 21 Auburn softball's (31-13, 8-6 SEC) rally fell short as No. 13 LSU (34-9, 7-7 SEC) evened the series with a 3-2 win at Jane B. Moore Field on Saturday.
"In these games, it always comes down to the small stuff," said head coach Mickey Dean. "The things that you don't recognize like a leadoff walk or a bobble on relay all in one inning. That's the difference in the game. We also had some base running miscues, so it is the little things. As long as our kids keep bringing the energy and keep playing hard, we're going to be fine."
Garcia totaled two of Auburn's three hits in Saturday's contest and drove in both runs for the Orange and Blue. Nelia Peralta was the only other Tiger credited with a hit as she doubled in the third inning.
"Lindsey is doing a great job making adjustments," Dean added. "You just hope the younger players on our team follow along and notice the adjustments that Lindsey has been able to make in game. That's part of the process."
Shelby Lowe (3-4) and LSU freshman Sydney Berzon were locked in duel early as the duo kept both offenses hitless until Auburn broke through in the third inning.
Peralta delivered with a two-out double to the right center gap before advancing to third on a wild pitch. An Aubrie Lisenby walk and stolen base put two in scoring position. Facing a two-strike count, Garcia knocked a base hit back to pitching circle to plate a run and break the stalemate.
Lowe retired 11 straight before allowing her first base runner with a single to left field. Georgia Clark gave LSU its first lead of the series with a two-run home run to left field. Meeting her pitch count, Lowe left the game after four innings. She gave up two runs on a pair of hits and struck out five.
LSU pushed its lead to 3-1 in the fifth manufacturing a run with a walk and RBI double to left center. Allowing that lone run in the fifth, Annabelle Widra shut down the LSU offense in her final two frames of relief to keep Auburn in the game. Widra was tagged for three hits and a walk while striking out five in her three innings of relief.
"Our pitchers did a nice job," Dean said. "I thought Shelby had a great outing. Anabelle did a nice job. It's always the small things. It's tough as a pitcher. One batter, one pitch can change the outcome of a game. They gave us an opportunity to win the game. There's no doubt about that."
Garcia led off the sixth with her ninth home run of her senior campaign with her solo shot to left field, but she would be the last Auburn Tiger to reach base.
"We need to continue to be clean on defense," Dean said. "Our pitchers need to continue to hit their spots and change speeds and locations. Our offense needs to make LSU's pitcher pay for their mistakes and not let them off the hook. That will give us a chance on Sunday."
The series is on the line Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT. The series finale will be available on ESPN2.
