AUBURN, Ala. – Sophomore Ella Harrison was dominant in the circle as she traded blows with Alabama’s Jocelyn Briski, but Auburn softball couldn’t push across the equalizing run and fell in the series opener, 1-0, Friday night at Jane B. Moore Field.
Harrison (10-8) relied heavily on her defense, which turned in a perfect performance behind her. The right-hander went the distance, scattering eight hits and one walk while striking out three. She allowed just one earned run in the fifth inning.
““Ella (Harrison) did an incredible job of getting after it tonight,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “She threw well enough to win. We played good defense behind her and made some tough plays. I feel great about how we performed on that side.
“Offensively, we did just enough to give ourselves some chances, but we didn’t execute at the final point when we had runners on base. At the end of the day, it’s the difference in execution in those situations.”
Auburn ( 23-17, 2-11 SEC) found more production at the plate, totaling six hits off Briski, but ultimately couldn’t push a run across. Six different Tigers recorded a single in the contest.
The Tigers had an early opportunity after loading the bases in the second inning, but Alabama (37-3, 10-3 SEC) responded with a play at the plate and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless. Auburn also had scoring chances in the third and fourth innings but came up empty.
“(Briski) was able to take us out of the zone at times,” Malveaux added. “That’s something we have got to get better at. They have a pitcher who will likely start tomorrow who does something similar. We have to make sure we’re locked in and being selective. When we get what we want, we have to go all in.”
Harrison kept Alabama’s offense in check until the fifth inning, when Jena Young led off the frame with a triple to left center, marking the first extra-base hit of the night. Alabama followed with a single up the middle to score the game’s only run.
Young again tripled to lead off the seventh, but Auburn’s defense turned an inning-ending double play to give the Tigers a chance in the final frame.
“We brought a lot to the game tonight,” Malveaux said. “We fought. It was important to feel how close we were, and tomorrow we’ve got to push through.”
GAME NOTES
- Kylie Shawsingled in the third inning to extend her reached base streak to 13 consecutive games. She has reached safely in 39 of 40 contests this season.
- Ella Harrison tossed her 10th complete game of the season. She now has 28 complete games in her career. Harrison has struck out multiple batters in 21 of her 25 appearances this season.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. CT and will air on SEC Network. Fans can listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM or stream the broadcast on the Auburn Tigers website and mobile app.
Saturday marks the SEC’s annual “All for Alex” game. Teams across the league will wear teal in honor of Alex Wilcox, a former Mississippi State softball student-athlete who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2018.