Auburn drops extra-inning pitching duel at Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. – In a pitching duel that featured a scoreless game through seven innings, Auburn softball (25-15, 5-11 SEC) came up short as Ole Miss (30-15, 11-8) walked off the game, 1-0, in the eighth inning Friday night at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
 
Shelby Lowe and Anna Borgen went toe-for-toe in the circle. The pair stranded a combined eight base runners in scoring positions through the first seven innings.
 
The Rebels loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with a single to center, walk and a hit by pitch. Blaise Biringer walked off the game with a single up the middle.
 
"They had opportunities," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We had opportunities. In eight innings, they had one hit with a runner in scoring position. That's the difference in the ballgame."
 
Lowe (12-5) tossed the complete game with 7.1 innings to her credit. She worked around six base hits through the first seven innings to leave the Rebels scoreless and force extras. Lowe was tagged with eight total hits and three walks. The lefty struck out seven in the appearance
 
Auburn totaled four hits in Friday's opener. Kaylee Horton reached base twice in her return to Oxford, picking up a single.
 
ON DECK
Auburn will have a chance to even the series in primetime on Saturday. Game two against the Rebels is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch on the SEC Network.