AUBURN, Ala. – Down to the last out, freshman Jessie Blaine slugged a three-run home run to tie the game in the seventh to force extra innings, but the rally fell short as No. 19 Auburn softball (24-2, 3-1 SEC) fell, 7-10, in the 11th inning to South Carolina (18-8, 2-2 SEC) Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field.
The loss was Auburn's first at home and snapped the Tigers' 16-game win streak.
"In eleven innings, we only got the leadoff batter on twice," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We weren't able to capitalize when we had free base runners off walks in the late innings. We made too many errors to compete."
Blaine did most of the damage at the plate as she turned in a 2-for-4 performance with a walk and the game-tying home run in the seventh. Blaine drove in four of Auburn's seven runs.
The Tigers trailed by a run until the fourth inning as freshman Bri Ellis and senior Aspyn Godwin slugged back-to-back home runs to push Auburn's lead to 3-2. Godwin turned in a multi-hit performance, closing the game 2-for-5.
Auburn's lead was short lived as South Carolina plated an unearned in the fifth to tie the game, but the Tigers once again responded as Blaine belted an RBI double to left field to put Auburn back in front 5-4 after five innings.
The back-and-forth affair continues as the Gamecocks responded with a sacrifice fly from Katie Prebble tied the game in the sixth. Miscues plagued the Tigers in the top of the seventh as South Carolina took advantage to score two unearned runs.
The Tigers continued to fight as sophomore Makayla Packer reached on a one-out single. A fielder's choice followed by a walk had two on with two outs for the Tigers. With a 2-1 count, Blaine sent a home run to left field to tie the game.
The two squads combined to strand five base runners through the eighth, ninth and 10th innings, but three Auburn errors in the 11th resulted in three unearned runs to give South Carolina a 10-7 advantage.
Packer reached base in the bottom of the 11th with a one-out single, her second hit of the contest, but Auburn was unable to capitalize with another late rally.
The Tiger pitching staff was tagged for 18 hits in the contest while just three of South Carolina's 10 runs were earned. The Tiger staff issued just one walk and combined for seven strikeouts. Sophomore Maddie Penta led the Tigers with five strikeouts but suffered her first loss of the season as she fell to 15-1.
UP NEXT
Auburn looks to even the series on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Sunday is Military Appreciation Night at Jane B. Moore Field. Fans will receive a free American flag tumbler while supplies last.
