KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Auburn softball (27-19, 4-16 SEC) scored three unanswered runs, but it wasn’t enough at No. 4 Tennessee (36-9, 11-6 SEC) held on for a 6-4 win Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to clinch the series.
“We had some things not go our way,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “It’s hard to not respond as an athlete in that situation. We just got to make sure we don’t let the frustrations linger. It took a couple innings, and we struggled to power through. I love the fight towards the end. We were able to string some things together offensively, but we just have to find a way to make it happen tomorrow.”
After giving up six runs through the first two innings, Auburn’s SJ Geurin and Haley Rainey kept the Lady Vols offense scoreless over the final four frames to give the Tigers a chance. The duo combined for four strikeouts. Geurin suffered the loss to fall to 17-9.
AnnaLea Adams continued her hot hitting with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with an RBI. While not starting the game, Aubrie Lisenby made the most of her plate appearances with a 2-for-2 effort. Nelia Peralta picked up a pair of RBI and connected for her eighth home run of the season.
Neither team waited until the sixth inning to score in their second meeting on the diamond. Auburn jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Peralta slugged a solo home run to left field.
Tennessee answered in the home half of the opening frame. A triple put a Lady Vol in scoring position for Laura Mealer. Her two-out single to left field plated the run to lock the game at 1-1.
The Lady Vols broke open the game in the second inning, scoring five runs off three hits. Sophia Nugent’s three-run home run did the majority of the damage.
Auburn cut into the lead in the top of the fourth. Adams led off the inning with a single to center. With Thalia Martin running at first, Icess Tresvik dropped the sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position. Anna Wohlers drove a ball to right center to plate the run and cut the lead to 6-2.
The Tigers continued their comeback bid in the top of the fifth. Lisenby and Rose Roach set the table with back-to-back singles before a sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position. Auburn traded and out for a run as Peralta earned her second RBI with a ground out to short.
Adams came through with a two-out base hit as her infield single to first base cut the Tennessee lead to 6-4.
Lisenby led off the seventh with a single through the left side to bring the tying run to the plate, but the next three batters were retired in order.
UP NEXT
Saturday’s series finale is set 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network+.