GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Samantha Yarbrough's shutdown performance against No. 7 Florida (20-4, 2-0 SEC) came up just short as Auburn softball (14-10, 0-2 SEC) fell to the Gators in 11 innings Saturday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Yarbrough shut the Gators out over nine of the 10 innings she tossed. The only run she allowed was off an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning that tied up the game and ultimately forced extra innings. Yarbrough worked around 10 hits and three walks to strand 11 total Gators over her appearance. She struck out a season-high eight batters.
Freshman KK Dismukes (0-1) was tagged with the loss, her first of the season. Coming into the game in the bottom of the 11th, Dismukes allowed three singles and worked around a couple Auburn errors as the Gators manufactured the walk-off hit to clinch the series.
Senior Brittany Maresette was Auburn's leader at the plate, turning in a 2-for-4 night. She was the only Tiger to tally multiple hits against the Gators. Maresette drove in Auburn's lone run with a pinch-hit single to left in the fourth inning.
The Tigers had a couple chances to plate the go-ahead run late in the game. Junior Makenna Dowell slugged Auburn's only extra-base hit with a two-out double in the top of the eighth, but the Tigers could not follow up with a base hit. Auburn also had a Tiger in scoring position in the 10th and 11th innings, but Florida's pitching staff shut the door on both scoring chances.
SCORING RECAP
Top 4
The Tigers took advantage of back-to-back free passes as Tannon Snow drew a walk and Justus Perry got on board via a hit by pitch. Aspyn Godwin executed the sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with two outs. In a pinch-hit appearance, Brittany Maresette delivered with a single to left, plating pinch runner Jadia Jones.
Auburn 1; Florida 0
Bottom 6
Charla Echols led off the inning with a single through the right side. Yarbrough battled back with an infield pop up to short, but Julia Cottrill singled to left to move the Gator into scoring position. Yarbrough racked up her fifth strikeout of the game for the second out, but Lindsey Cheyenne locked the game up at one with a single up the middle to drive in a run.
Auburn 1; Florida 1
Bottom 11
Cheyenne Lindsey led off the inning with a bunt single back to the circle. An errant throw to first on the play moved Lindsey into scoring position. Jaimie Hoover singled to center to put two Gators on base. An Auburn error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases. Hannah Adams walked off the game for Florida with an RBI single to left.
Auburn 1; Florida 2
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Mickey Dean
"It was a great game. The pitching was excellent on both sides. We have to understand the importance of the short game both offensively and defensively. That's the difference in the ball game."
TIGER TRACKS
Alyssa Rivera – Swiped the 35th stolen base of her career to jump into a tie with Kim Blair (1997-99) for fourth in program history.
Justus Perry – Drew her team-leading fifth and sixth HBPs of the season, bringing her career total to 31.
Brittany Maresette – Recorded her second multi-hit game of the season, the 13th of her career.
Samantha Yarbrough – Consecutive scoreless inning streak came to a close after 16.1 innings. Closed the game tossing a career-high 174 pitches. Also closed the game with a career-high 10.0 innings pitched. She set a season high in strikeouts with eight.
UP NEXT
Sunday's series finale in Gainesville is set for 2 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.