Auburn snapped its five-game losing streak on Sunday with a pair of come-from-behind wins at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers concluded the War Eagle Battle with a 2-1 win over No. 13 Florida State and followed it up with a 4-3 win over Kennesaw State.
"Today was very important," said Tyler King. "We knew we needed to bounce back. We had a few things in mind that we needed to work on, and I think we successfully achieved those today."
In the top of the second, the Seminoles struck first. A leadoff walk, a throwing error advanced two runners, and a ground ball to first drove in an unearned run.
Auburn responded in the bottom of the third as Makenna Dowell and King led off with singles before Sydney Cox doubled to score both.
Florida State threatened Auburn's 2-1 lead in the seventh after leading the inning off with a triple. After giving up a triple to start the inning, Shelby Lowe finished the game off with two pop-outs and a strikeout.
Lowe went the distance against Florida State, allowing just three hits, one walk and struck out six. With the win, Lowe improved to 7-2 on the season.
In the second game of the day, it was all Kennesaw State early on.
Maddie Penta walked three straight batters with two outs in the second inning before KK Dismukes entered the game in relief. Dismukes gave up a two-RBI single before escaping the inning.
In the third, Dismukes was tagged for another run after giving up a solo shot.
Similar to the first game of the day, Auburn responded in the bottom of the third. Kelsey Schmidt and Justus Perry singled, and Dowell bunted to reach base safely while Schmidt scored on a throwing error.
King's double drove in another run before a walk loaded the bases. Aspyn Godwin stepped up to the plate and tied things up after a sacrifice fly to center field.
Auburn and Kennesaw State's 3-3 tie held up until the bottom of the fifth. After King singled to reach base, Godwin's double brought King home and gave Auburn the lead.
In the seventh inning, Makayla Packer's diving catch in center field gave Auburn its first out of the inning. The Owls singled to left-center with one out but were caught on the base path. Dismukes forced a pop-out to end the game.
Dismukes earned the win and improved to 3-0 on the season. She pitched 5.1 innings in relief and allowed one run, four hits, three walks and struck out a career-high five batters.
Penta got the start and pitched 1.2 innings allowing two runs, one hit, four walks and struck out three.
"Not everybody is going to bat 1.000, not every pitcher is going to hit all their sports, not every player on the field is going to field 1.000, but we've got to support each other and play hard together," said head coach Mickey Dean. "Today, we did that. These are the types of games that bring your team closer together."
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Jake Weese, senior in journalism with a minor in history, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
