AUBURN, Ala. – Behind a strong pitching effort from Haley Rainey, Auburn softball opened Wednesday’s doubleheader at Jane B. Moore Field with a 6-1 win over UAB, but the Blazers capitalized on Tiger miscues in game two for a 4-3 win to split the twin billing.
All five Blazer runs scored across the doubleheader were unearned.
“Kudos to UAB,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “They were able to continually hit spots in the second game. You don’t want to point fingers, but we struggled defensively where last weekend it was our defense that gave us a chance to sweep a series. UAB was able to capitalize on every single error. It’s a focus thing. We’ve got to stay locked in and take care of the ball.”
Rainey (4-3) tossed six innings and allowed just one run to help the Tigers cruise to a 6-1 win in Wednesday’s opening contest. She scattered four hits and a walk to keep the Blazer offense quiet.
Icess Tresvik came up big with a 2-for-2 effort with two RBI in the game.
Four Tiger errors proved the difference in game two as UAB manufactured four unearned runs in the win. SJ Geurin kept the game close with 6.1 innings of relief. She allowed just one run off three hits and struck out a pair.
Auburn battled back to make it a one-run game but were unable to complete the comeback. Tresvik suffered the loss in the circle to fall to 0-2.
Anna Wohlers led the Tigers at the plate over Wednesday’s slate with a 3-for-4 effort. She added a double, two runs score and a RBI. Tresvik finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and two RBI.
Starting game two, Aubrie Lisenby went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Ma’Nia Womack also turned in a strong effort in game two with an incredible catch at the wall to save a run and added an RBI double.
GAME ONE
After a scoreless first inning, Auburn got on the board in the bottom of the second. Tresvik led off the inning with a single before swiping second and moving to third on a passed ball. Amelia Lech would drive her in with a groundout to second. The RBI was the 100th of Lech’s career.
The Tigers had a big third inning, plating four runs to build their lead. Auburn loaded the bases with two free passes and an UAB error. Tresvik singled to right field to drive in a pair. Auburn scored the third run of the inning as an errant throw to second base on a steal attempt sailed into the outfield. Wohlers would cap the scoring with her RBI double to right.
With one on via an Auburn error, UAB cut the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning with a Britt Bourgoyne triple. AnnaLea Adams responded in the fifth with a solo home run to left center. It was her eighth home run of the season, which is tied for the fifth most home runs recorded by a Tiger freshman in program history.
Malayna Tamborra closed the game out for the Tigers as she made a relief appearance in the seventh, allowing just one hit and picking up a strikeout.
GAME TWO
Auburn found itself in a hole early as a first-inning error would ultimately cost the Tigers as UAB scored three unearned runs.
The Tigers cut it to a one-run game in the second frame. With Wohlers on board with a single, Womack doubled to left center to plate the first run. After moving to third off a Lisenby single, Womack would steal home to make It a 3-2 game.
That score would hold until the fourth as two Tiger errors would manufacture another UAB run. Auburn answered in the home half as Lisenby knocked an RBI double to once again make it a one-run game.
Auburn would get a base runner in the sixth as Wohlers reached on a single, but she would be the last Tiger to reach safely in the game.
UP NEXT
Auburn continues its homestand this weekend, hosting No. 18 Georgia for a three-game series. The action begins Friday with MalveauxMania at Jane B. Moore Field. First pitch on the SEC Network is set for 5 p.m. CT.