AUBURN, Ala. – Staring at a three-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, No. 17 Auburn softball (29-5, 7-4 SEC) plated two runs and had the tying run at third base, but the Tiger rally fell just short as No 7 Florida (29-6, 6-5 SEC) held on to a 7-6 victory Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field to even the series.
"I was proud of how we competed there at the end of the game," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We really fought back but fell short."
The Gators struck first with a pair of runs in the first. Florida's Lexie Delbrey retired seven straight Tigers before sophomore Sydney Cox drew a four-pitch walk. Sophomore Makayla Packer ended the no-hitter with a two-run home run to tie the game in the third.
Florida responded in the fourth, plating four runs off seven hits in the fourth. The Gators added an unearned run in the fifth as a throwing error on a steal attempt rolled to the centerfield wall.
Auburn's rally began in the sixth as Packer drew a one-out walk. Freshman Nelia Peralta drove a ball to left field, just deep enough for her ninth home run of the game.
Freshman Aubrie Lisenby led off the seventh with a walk ahead of a double to right center from sophomore Sydney Cox to bring the tying run to the plate. Junior Carlee McCondichie cut the lead to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly to center before Packer cleared the bases with a triple to slice the lead to one run.
Peralta drew a walk, but a ground ball to third base ended the game.
Packer reached base in three of her plate appearances as she went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, two runs scored and three RBI. Peralta also turned in a multi-RBI performance as she drove in two runs.
In circle, sophomore Shelby Lowe earned the start and was relieved after one inning for junior KK Dismukes (2-1). The Tigers gave up just five earned runs off 13 hits and a pair of walks. Dismukes recorded the lone strikeout of the game.
UP NEXT
Auburn goes for the series win in Sunday's rubber game. First pitch on the SEC Network+ is set for 1 p.m. CT.