COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 17 Auburn softball (36-15, 12-8 SEC) fell 8-0 in five innings in game two of the series at South Carolina (33-16, 8-12 SEC) Saturday at Beckham Field at Carolina Softball Stadium.
Auburn had two base runners in Saturday's contest. Senior Carlee McCondichie drew a two-out walk in the third inning while sophomore Bri Ellis reached in the fourth on a hit by pitch.
Annabelle Widra and South Carolina's Donnie Gobourne kept both offenses hitless until the fourth inning when the Gamecocks broke up Widra's no-hit bid.
In her 3.2 innings, Widra allowed just two hits, both coming in the fourth inning. Widra struck out five in the outing. Freshman Emmah Rolfe closed out the game in relief for the Tigers.
After retiring the first four batters she faced, Widra allowed her first base runner via hit by pitch. Auburn recorded the out at first on a sacrifice bunt but attempted a double play at third as Gamecock pinch runner Aaliyah White attempted to gain an extra 60 feet. An errant throw to the bag allowed an unearned run to score, giving South Carolina its first lead of the series.
Auburn kept it a one-run game until the fourth inning. South Carolina knocked the first two hits of the afternoon by either team, doing the damage on a three-run home run down the line in left. South Carolina added four runs off a pair of hits in the fifth innings to walk off the game.
The series is on the line Sunday with first pitch set for 12 p.m. CT. Sunday's finale is also available on the SEC Network+.