Auburn softball failed to avoid the sweep on Saturday as the offense never got anything going, losing the final game of the series 4-1 to No. 4 Tennessee at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Tigers were held to a single hit until the top of the sixth inning, when Abbey Smith reached first on a single to shortstop. Smith found herself in scoring position after stealing second and eventually came around to score after an AnnaLea Adams RBI-single to give the Tigers their only run of the afternoon.
It was a team effort on defense for Auburn with Icess Tresvik, Malayna Tamborra and SJ Geurin each throwing a pair of innings. Tresvik struck out three and didn’t allow a hit in her two innings, but was credited with an unearned run in the second inning and the loss.
“I felt like our pitching did a great job,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “We were able to work through some situations. It’s hard to keep Tennessee’s offense at bay. They were able to get a couple runners on and got the big hit and that ended up being the difference. I felt like we made some adjustments at the plate, but didn’t have much to show for it. We have to regroup and put the emotional part of it behind us but also use it as something we have to work on. But I felt like we competed throughout the series.”
The Lady Vols scored their first run on a wild pitch, then got hot in the fifth inning. The inning started off with a double and an intentional walk before Tennessee scored three runs on a pair of singles that brought the Lady Vols to four total runs.
Tennessee’s Sage Mardjetko was a bright spot for the Lady Vols, pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
Auburn showed some fight late, with Amelia Lech securing the Tigers’ fourth hit of the game with two outs in the seventh inning. However, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and left Lech stranded on base to close out the game.
Auburn moves to 27-20 on the season and 4-17 in SEC play while Tennessee sits at an overall record of 37-9 and 11-7 in the SEC.
The Tigers’ final series at Jane B. Moore Field will be against the South Carolina Gamecocks (33-11, 8-8 SEC) on April 25. But first, the Tigers will take on in-state foe South Alabama. Auburn has thrived in non-conference games this season, sitting at 23-3 on the season with an opportunity to add to that total on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
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Marshall is a junior majoring in Journalism. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @marshalldow02
