AUBURN, Ala. – In the opening game of Southeastern Conference play, No. 21/22 Auburn softball (16-2, 0-1 SEC) fell, 6-0, to No. 4/4 Alabama (20-1, 1-0 SEC) Friday night at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn loaded the bases twice in in the first three innings but could not find the breakthrough hit. The top of the Tiger order recorded seven of Auburn's eight hits.
"When facing a lineup as experienced as theirs, it's not the singles that get you, it's the balls that leave the park" said head coach Mickey Dean. "Great hitting teams are going to make you pay for your mistakes."
Makenna Dowell led the Tigers at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Dowell was unstoppable in the field with a season-high five assists. In her SEC debut, Sydney Cox turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Maddie Penta suffered her first loss of the season to fall to 6-1. In her four innings of work, Penta allowed nine hits and five runs, four of which were earned. She struck out a pair and did not issue a walk.
Lexie Handley tossed the final three innings in relief. She gave up a pair of hits and one walk. Her lone hit she allowed was to Bailey Hemphill. Bailey Dowling added a solo home run for the Tide.
Hemphill closed the night 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two home runs and five RBI.
After giving up two runs in the top of the first, the Tigers knocked three singles to load the bases with one out, but Alabama answered with a strikeout and ground ball to second to keep Auburn scoreless.
The top of the order loaded the bases again with singles from Dowell, Cox and Makayla Packer, but again Alabama kept Auburn off the board, retiring the next three batters.
Auburn was held to a pair of singles over the final four innings.
TIGER TRACKS
- Makenna Dowell has recorded at least one hit in 16 of Auburn's 18 games to start the season.
- Makenna Dowell recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season and the 13th multi-hit game.
- Sydney Cox extended her reached base streak to 12 consecutive games with help of third multi-hit game of the year.
- Makayla Packer extended her hit streak to nine straight games and reached base streak to 12 consecutive game.
ON DECK
Auburn looks to bounce back and even the series on Saturday. First pitch is schedule for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.