FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A pair of Tiger errors snowballed into multiple unearned runs for No. 6 Arkansas as Auburn softball dropped the series opener, 10-0, in five innings Saturday at Bogle Park.
Miscues plagued the Tigers (23-14, 2-8 SEC) as eight of Arkansas’ 10 runs were unearned.
“We had a couple of mistakes that led to big innings,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “Little things like that leave the door open. (Robyn Herron) is tough to score against. We had some opportunities. It feels like the score was exaggerated compared to how the game began. The biggest thing we need to do is stay disciplined at the plate and realize we’re one play away from keeping the score from getting away. We’ve got to learn from today and move past it.”
Offensively, Auburn was limited to two hits. Sophomore Kylie Shaw singled in the third inning, while freshman Haven Roebuck doubled in the fourth. The Tigers also drew three free passes but closed the game leaving five Tigers stranded.
Sophomore Ella Harrison (10-6) tossed three innings in the start, scattering four hits and allowing just two earned runs. She struck out two. Redshirt freshman Abby Herndon pitched the final inning and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
Arkansas (31-5, 6-4 SEC) struck in the second inning. With two runners in scoring position with one out, a sacrifice fly to the warning track and a bloop single to shallow center plated a pair of runs.
An Auburn error in the third inning was followed by a walk to load the bases before back-to-back singles drove in three unearned runs. Another Auburn miscue in the fourth led to five additional unearned runs. Arkansas’ Kailey Wyckoff drove in three of the five runs in the frame with a home run to right field.
GAME NOTES
- Kylie Shaw singled in the third inning to extend her reached-base streak to 10 consecutive games. She has reached safely in 36 of 37 contests this season and recorded a hit in 28 games.
- Haven Roebuck doubled in the fourth inning for her team-leading ninth of the season.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Sunday 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.
BACK AT HOME
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field April 10-12 to host in-state rival No. 4 Alabama for a three-game series. It is Alumni Weekend on the Plains as Auburn will honor former players in attendance during a pregame ceremony on Sunday.
Fans are asked to wear navy for Friday’s opener. Shakers will be available while supplies last. 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. Sunday’s finale is the “All Auburn, All Orange” game with Auburn softball shirts available while supplies last.