In their first game in the Women’s College World Series in program history, the Tigers lost to LSU 6-1 on Thursday afternoon, May 28.
Auburn’s potent offense was kept quiet for the majority of the game by LSU’s starting pitcher, Carley Hoover. Hoover tossed a complete game, using only 78 pitches to hold Auburn to six hits over seven strong innings.
LSU shortstop Bianka Bell hit a home run to left field in the first inning to put the first run on the board.
LSU and Auburn traded hits in the second inning before LSU broke through in the top of the third.
The Tigers starting pitcher Marcy Harper got two quick outs to begin the inning, but LSU put together a two out rally that pushed across four runs.
Bailey Landry singled to center and Harper walked Bell to put two runners on base for LSU’s cleanup hitter, Sahvanna Jaquish. Jaquish stroked a ball off the wall in right center field, scoring both Landry and Bell.
The next batter, Kellsi Kloss, hit a home run high off the foul pole in left field, prompting Auburn head coach Clint Myers to bring Rachael Walters to the circle.
Walters went on to pitch the remainder of the game. She threw 4 and one-third innings, allowing only four hits and one unearned run.
Auburn scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Morgan Estell doubled off the wall in left center, and Jade Rhodes laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner. Estell came across to score when the next batter, Jenna Abbott, hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Auburn began to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runners on with no outs. However, after Rhodes hit into a double play, Hoover struck out Abbott to end the game.
The loss dropped Auburn’s record on the season to 54-10.
Auburn will return to action in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. in an elimination game against Tennessee.
The game will be televised on ESPN.
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