AUBURN, Ala. – No. 20 Auburn softball (20-6, 0-4 SEC) battled late to put the tying run on base in the bottom of the eighth, but No. 5 Texas A&M (22-4, 2-2 SEC) held on to take a 5-4 win Friday to open the three-game series at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers started the game with a bases-clearing triple from Amelia Lech in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Aggies would score three unanswered to lock the game up and force extras.
After the Aggies scored two in the top of the eighth, AnnaLea Adams slugged a solo home run to cut the lead to 5-4. Auburn got the tying run on base with an infield single from Anna Wohlers, but the rally fell short.
“I loved the way came out and competed,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “Every at bat, we were locked in and got after it. Icess (Tresvik) did a tremendous job in the circle. She gave us everything we asked of her today and more. Defensively, we looked sharp. Our infield was making plays. As the game went on, there were too many moments at the plate where we were hesitant and unsure. We didn’t bounce back in key moments that could have changed the game. We had opportunities, got the top of the lineup back up when we needed it. Tonight hurts because of those moments. We just needed one of them where we stayed committed and made it happen.”
Auburn’s offense had chances, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, before the bats went quiet. Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy retired 11 straight before Adams’ solo blast in the eighth.
Making her first SEC start, Icess Tresvik was impressive in the circle with three scoreless frames before Texas A&M connected with a two-run Amari Harper home run in the fourth inning to cut the Tiger lead to 3-2. Tresvik allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out two in the start.
SJ Geurin tossed the final five innings of relief and was sharp until the top of the Aggie order did its damage in the eighth with three hits, including an RBI double from Mya Perez. Geurin suffered the loss to fall to 13-4.
Adams closed the night 2-for-4 with her fourth home run of the season. Lech went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Nelia Peralta extended her hit streak to nine consecutive games with her 1-for-3 effort.
The Tiger defense was sharp throughout the contest with a pair of double plays while Aubrie Lisenby threw out a pair of Aggies from behind the dish. The Tigers had a chance in the sixth to throw an Aggie runner out at the plate off a tag on a fly ball to left. Lisenby’s diving tag was in time, but the collision forced the ball out of her glove.
UP NEXT
The Tigers have a chance to tie up the series on Saturday. First pitch on the SEC Network is set for 11 a.m. CT.