AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's bottom-of-the-seventh rally came up short as the No. 12 Tigers (33-10, 9-6) fell to No. 16 South Carolina (31-12, 7-10), 8-4, to wrap up the three-game weekend series.
"You have to battle all the time," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean. "Defense is about pride and you have responsibilities to your team. We are not owning up to some of those responsibilities on defense."
South Carolina took an early one-run lead in the top of the first when Alex Fulmer, who pinch ray for Alyssa Kumiyama, scored from third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jordan Fabian. The Gamecocks extended their lead an inning later when Cayla Drotar, who went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs for South Carolina in the pitching circle, scored on a throwing error. Lauren Stewart followed when Kumiyama singled during the next at bat.
Stewart scored again in the top of the fifth on a fielder's choice, before Mackenzie Boesel made it 5-0, Gamecocks, when she singled home Madison Owens.
Auburn responded in the bottom half of the frame when Casey McCrackin hit a two-out double to left-center field to plate Bree Fornis from third. Alyssa Rivera brought McCrackin home when she singled moments later.
Two home runs for South Carolina in the top of the seventh gave the Gamecocks an 8-2 lead heading into the Tigers' final at bat.
With the bases loaded and only one out, Kendall Veach capped a 3-for-3 afternoon when she reached first on an infield single as McCrackin scored again. Rivera concluded Auburn's scoring minutes later when she scored from third on a groundout by Brittany Maresette.
Auburn will return to action on Wednesday, April 17 when the Tigers play host to Alabama State at 6 p.m.