Auburn's softball team has yet to be swept in the 2014 campaign, but Saturday's 7-6 loss to the No. 7 Florida Gators has put the Tigers on the verge of their longest losing streak this season.
Trailing by two runs in the top of the seventh, Auburn was able to pull back a run, but was unable to push the tying run across the plate.
Branndi Melero and McKenzie Kilpatrick combined to go 4-of-8 on the afternoon and drove in all six of Auburn's runs in the loss.
Stephanie Tofft opened up the scoring for the Gators with a three-run homerun in the bottom of the first inning.
Another run in the bottom of the second gave Florida a comfortable lead, but Melero crushed a two-run bomb to deep center field in the top of the third to cut the deficit in half.
Three batters later, Kilpatrick tied the game back up with another deep shot to center field.
Marcy Harper's struggles on the mound continued in the bottom of the third, however, as Kirsti Merritt put the Gators back in front with a solo home run.
Melero singled in another run in the top of the fourth to claw the Tigers back even, but Merritt struck again in the fifth, crushing a solo home run that would force Harper from the game.
Down 7-5 in the top of the sixth, the Tigers would threaten with two runners on base, but Melero fouled out to third base to end the threat.
Neither starting pitcher had a particularly successful outing Saturday afternoon. Harper gave up six runs (five earned) in four innings of work while Delanie Gourley allowed four runs on three hits in three innings for the Gators.
The Tigers will hope to avoid their first sweep of the season Sunday afternoon in Gainesville, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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