BATON ROUGE, La. – Behind a gem from Shelby Lowe, Auburn softball (23-13-1, 5-10 SEC) completed its comeback bid to take down No. 6 LSU (33-8, 10-8 SEC) 3-1 on Sunday at Tiger Park to claim its first Southeastern Conference series win of the season.
In her first seven-inning complete game performance since offseason surgery after the 2022 campaign, Lowe allowed a first-inning run before completely shutting down the LSU offense. Lowe allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out five to improve to 6-3 on the season.
"What a three-game series," said head coach Mickey Dean. "We didn't focus on last night's game very long. We flushed it quick. How about Shelby Lowe? This was the first time this season that I came to her in the fifth inning and told her I was taking her out and she asked to stay in the game. I was nervous, but I trusted her. Her teammates had her back, so I left her in. I'm glad I did."
Auburn's defense had Lowe's back throughout the game, including a huge fifth-inning double play turned by Rose Roach to keep Auburn in front. Makayla Packer chased down a shallow ball in left center to seal the game in the seventh.
It was Auburn's first series in Baton Rouge since 2015 and marks the first time since the 2015 and 2016 seasons that Auburn has won back-to-back series over the Bayou Bengals.
A lead-off walk proved to be costly in the opening frame, as LSU moved the runner into scoring position before a two-out single up the middle gave the home Tigers a first-inning lead. Auburn continued to apply pressure with base runners in the first three innings before its fourth-inning comeback.
Auburn's comeback was sparked by Nelia Peralta's leadoff single. The Tigers wanted speed on the bases and elected to put Abbey Smith into the game to run for Peralta. Packer moved Smith over with a sacrifice bunt to give Auburn a runner in scoring position.
Icess Tresvik flashed her speed, beating out an infield single before stealing second to put two Tigers in scoring position for the bottom of lineup. In her first SEC start, Axe Milanowski drew a two-out walk to load the bases and keep the inning alive.
Annabelle Widra came up with the go-ahead hit as her single to shallow right scored two to put Auburn in front 2-1. Pinch runner Skylar Elkins and Widra perfected the double steal, with Elkins streaking home to push the Auburn lead to a decisive 3-1.
Auburn's midweek finale is set for Wednesday as the Tigers make the trip to Birmingham to face in-state foe UAB at Mary Bowers Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.