Auburn softball’s late-game rally proved not enough as the No. 12 Tigers fell at home to No. 16 South Carolina, 8-4 to end the three-game weekend series.

“You have to battle all the time,” said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean. “Defense is about pride and you have responsibilities to your team. We are not owning up to some of those responsibilities on defense.”

South Carolina took jumped to an early one-run lead in the top of the first when Alex Fulmer, who pinch ran for Alyssa Kumiyama, scored from third on a sacrifice fly off the bat to Jordan Fabian.

The Gamecocks (31-12, 7-10) extended their lead in the second inning when pitcher Cayla Drotar scored on a throwing error. Drotar threw four innings for South Carolina and allowed two runs for the Gamecocks' pitching circle. Lauren Stewart followed Drotar’s lead when Kumiyama singled during the next at-bat.

Stewart scored again in the top of the fifth — right before Mackenzie Boesel made it a 5-0 game when she signaled Madison Owens home.

Auburn (33-10, 9-6) showed signs of life late in the fifth when Casey McCrackin smacked a two-out double to left centerfield. Bree Fornis took this opportunity to haul her way from third to home. Alyssa Rivera sent McCrackin home when she singled on her next at bat.

The Gamecocks took the wind out of the Tigers’ sails with two homers in the top of the seventh. South Carolina sat at a comfortable 8-2 lead going into the Tigers’ final at bat.

With bases loaded and only one out, Kendall Veach ended her 3-3 afternoon when she reached first on an infield single as McCrackin scored again. Rivera polished off Auburn’s scoring minutes later when she made it home from third on a groundout by Brittany Marsette.

Auburn takes the field again Wednesday when it hosts Alabama State at 6 p.m. CST.