AUBURN, Ala. – Behind another strong performance in the circle, Shelby Lowe recorded her 100th strikeout of the season becoming just the fifth Auburn freshman in program history to hit the mark, but the Tiger (19-10, 1-7 SEC) offense came up short in the outing as the Tigers fell to #13 Arkansas (30-3, 11-0 SEC), 3-0, Friday at Jane B. Moore Field.
Lowe recorded her sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season, matching her career high with 12 strikeouts. She has struck out at least 10 batters in back-to-back SEC games. Her 111 strikeouts this season are the fourth most by a freshman in school history.
The Tiger bats were stifled at the plate as Autumn Storms held Auburn to four hits. Makenna Dowell recorded the only extra-base hit for the Tigers with a two-out double in the sixth inning.
"We knew we were going to be facing a drop ball pitcher today," said head coach Mickey Dean. "When we work against a drop ball, we work on trying to get it elevated. The times that we did, we ended up getting hits. We just didn't do it enough. Late in the game there, when we started putting runners on base, we just couldn't get the timely hit."
Arkansas' Braxton Burnside did the damage for the Razorback behind a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Burnside drove in the first run of the game in the top of the third with a fly ball to left. After Auburn's outfielders lost the ball in the sun, it fell for an RBI double. Burnside would knock a solo home in the fifth and closed the afternoon with an RBI double to left in the seventh.
Auburn's best scoring chance of the game came in the sixth inning. With two outs, Tyler King reached on an Arkansas fielding error. Dowell dropped a fair ball near the line in left field for a double to put two runners into scoring positions in then at 2-0 ballgame. Storms forced a ground ball to short to keep Auburn off the board.
Lowe was tagged with the loss as she gave up three runs off seven hits and a pair of walks. She fell to 8-3 on her freshman season. Storms held Auburn to four hits and walk in the appearance while striking out four. She improved to 4-0 on the season.
TIGER TRACKS
- Shelby Lowe became just the fifth Auburn freshman in program history to record 100 strikeouts in a season, joining Anna Thompson (2007), Jenee Loree (2009), Marcy Harper (2013) and Janet Spivey (2003).
- With 111 strikeouts this season, Lowe now has the fourth most strikeouts by an Auburn freshman. She is just 13 shy from jumping Marcy Harper for third overall in school history.
- Lowe has now struck out at least 10 batters in back-to-back SEC games. She has recorded double-digit strikeouts six time this season.
ON DECK
The series finale against the Razorbacks is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. Saturday's finale is set to air on the SEC Network.