AUBURN, Ala. – Miscues plagued No. 20 Auburn softball (20-7, 0-5 SEC) as three errors helped 12 unanswered runs to score, allowing No. 5 Texas A&M (23-4, 3-2 SEC) to clinch the series with a 13-2 win in five innings Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field.
“We’re trying to do too much,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “We let things mount up. It was almost a tale of two teams. Texas A&M was aggressive. They stayed true and executed what they were looking to do. We didn’t - on all sides. It seeped from one side of the ball to another. Some situations gave Texas A&M more opportunities, and they busted through the door with them and put the game away.”
After giving up a first-inning run on a sacrifice fly, Auburn also found early offense in the home half. Icess Tresvik walked and stole second before Nelia Peralta followed with a single to right field to extend her hit streak to 11 straight games.
The Tigers tied the game on an obstruction call at the plate on a double steal attempt. AnnaLea Adams drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to record her 17th RBI of her freshman campaign.
An error and three passed balls in the top of the second helped the Aggies score four unearned runs. Texas A&M would continue to pad its lead, including scoring five in the fifth, to secure the run-rule victory.
Auburn did have base runners in the third, fourth and fifth innings, including a Tresvik double in the third frame, but was unable to mount any additional offense.
The Tigers used three pitchers in the circle. Haley Rainey earned the start and went 2.2 innings for the Tigers. She was only charged with a pair of earned runs but suffered her first loss of the season to fall to 3-1. Malayna Tamborra and Emmah Rolfe also saw relief innings on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Auburn looks to prevent the sweep on Sunday. First pitch on the SEC Network+ is set for 2 p.m. CT.