BATON ROUGE, La. – Shelby Lowe and the Auburn softball (27-21, 7-17 SEC) defense held No. 16 LSU (31-18, 13-11 SEC) scoreless through five innings, but LSU knocked a sixth-inning grand slam to take Sunday's series finale at Tiger Park, 4-1.
Lowe and LSU's Ali Kilponen battled in yet another pitching duel. Kilponen stranded an Auburn runner in scoring position in the first three innings, while Lowe held LSU hitless through three.
Auburn broke through in the top of the fifth as Makenna Dowel led off with a single through the right side. After Auburn moved pinch runner Kaylee Horton into scoring position with a pair of outs, Maddison Koepke drove a single up the middle put the Tigers on the board, 1-0.
Lowe would hold her 1-0 lead until the sixth inning as LSU loaded the bases with three straight singles. Taylor Pleasants slugged the go-ahead grand slam with a fly ball to straightaway center.
Maddi Penta would enter the game in her first relief appearance of her collegiate career. She limited the damage by retiring the next three LSU batters she faced.
Pinch hitter Paige Geraghty gave Auburn some life in the top of the seventh with a two-out single up the middle, but Auburn could not capitalize.
ON DECK
Auburn will open the 2021 SEC Tournament on Tuesday, May 11 against South Carolina. First pitch from Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
Auburn falls to No. 16 LSU in regular-season finale
Makayla Packer at the plate.