COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Trailing by a run after the first inning, Auburn softball (21-12, 3-9 SEC) scored three unanswered runs to knock off Texas A&M (26-11, 5-7 SEC), 3-1, to claim the series victory Sunday at Davis Diamond.
It was a total team effort at the plate as the Tigers sprinkled seven hits throughout the lineup. Justus Perry put together a 2-for-2 performance at the plate with a double and a run scored. Lindsey Garcia knocked her second home run of the season to spark Auburn's come-from-behind effort.
Shelby Lowe put together a second complete-game performance of the weekend to improve to 10-3 on her freshman season. She gave up four hits with the only run scoring off a Haley Lee home run in the first inning. Lowe gave up just one walk and struck out five in the outing.
"It's so funny," said head coach Mickey Dean. "You can get seven or eight hits and not score, or you can get seven or eight hits and plate three or four runs. It is all about that timely hitting. Today, we had some nice timely hits. We made them make adjustments and that opened some things up for us. We were able to take advantage."
The Aggies took an early lead in the bottom of the first with a Haley Lee solo home run to left center. The lead was short lived as Lindsey Garcia tied the game up with one swing, knocking a solo home run off the videoboard in left field.
Shelby Lowe and the Aggie duo of Grace Uribe and Kayla Poynter settled the game down, allowing a combined three hits over the next two and a half innings.
The Tigers used some timely hitting in the top of the fifth to gain their first lead of the game. Justus Perry slugged a two-out double down the line in left to stand in scoring position. Pinch hitter Maia Engelkes put Auburn in front with an RBI single ripped back up the middle.
Auburn added some much-needed insurance in the sixth inning. With Tyler King on base after a one-out single to sallow center, Sydney Cox slugged a double to right center to extend the lead to 3-1.
After giving Lowe the lead in the fifth, the lefty retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced, allowing just a bunt single.
TIGER TRACKS
- Lindsey Garcia knocked the second home run of her sophomore season and her career.
- Shelby Lowe has now recorded 126 strikeouts this season, which is good for the third most by an Auburn freshman in program history. Her 126 strikeouts are the most by an Auburn freshman since the 2009 season.
- Justus Perry recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season and her 21st of her Auburn career.
ON DECK
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field for its final home nonconference contest of the regular season as the Tigers host Alabama State Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.