Anna Thompson: had a shaky appearance against the Gamecocks Sunday, allowing three earned runs and six hits in six innings. She leads the Tigers in strikeouts with 181 and is tied for the No. 1 spot in wins with 10. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
Starr Dorsey: dives into third base during a game against Mississippi State. Dorsey went hitless against South Carolina in Sunday’s second game. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
The Auburn softball team was tamed by the Gamecocks in a double-header sweep Sunday in South Carolina.
The first game ended with the Tigers being shut out by two runs, and South Carolina took the second win 3-2.
The series was supposed to be spread across the weekend, but rain washed out Saturday’s game and forced the double-header.
Auburn’s record is now 9-7 in the Southeastern Conference and 31-11 overall, placing the Tigers in the No. 3 slot in the SEC Western Division.
Despite coming off an 8-0 landslide win over Jacksonville State last Wednesday, the Auburn offense struggled against the Gamecocks, now 7-7 in the SEC, in Sunday’s 10 a.m. game.
South Carolina ace pitcher Melissa Hendon pitched the game in its entirety. Hendon allowed just one hit during the shutout.
A two-error Auburn defense was taken advantage of by South Carolina in the third inning. Gamecock Laura Mendes’ single was misplayed by
Auburn’s Brittany Scott, allowing Ashton Payne to score from second base.
Mendes reached third base on a wild pitch and scored when teammate Becky Martinez hit a single up the middle, giving South Carolina its two runs of the game.
Pitcher Brittany Day took the loss for the game, her third of the season. She allowed four hits, but struck out four and walked two.
The 1 p.m. game looked promising for the Tigers as they had a two-run lead in the fifth inning. Taryn Gray’s bases-loaded single scored Starr Dorsey and Megan Mitchell, who reached on a walk and fielder’s choice respectively.
Jorja Bell: first baseman, had the solo hit of Sunday’s second game. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR
However, Auburn didn’t hold the lead for long when the Gamecocks rallied in a comeback in the bottom of the same inning.
The pressure was heavy when three consecutive hits off Auburn’s Anna Thompson loaded the bases with no outs. Thompson struck out one, but
Lindsay Walker smashed a triple to left field clearing the bases and giving South Carolina its three runs.
Auburn is behind Alabama and LSU in the Western Division respectively. Florida continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the conference with a 43-2 overall record.
The Tigers will take on rival Alabama in a double-header Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and 1 p.m. Sunday on the Plains.
