Trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, Auburn softball exploded for six runs — capped by a walk-off grand slam from KK McCrary — to stun No. 19 Georgia 8-4 on Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field. The dramatic win secured back-to-back SEC series victories for the Tigers.
“We just needed base runners,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “(Kylie) Brockman stepped up, and the offense just trickled from there. Felt like Georgia tried to force some pitches to get us to bite early, but we weren’t going to swing unless it was right down the barrel. We worked as many walks as we could, and it worked out to put us in a good spot with AnnaLea (Adams) and a few batters later KK (McCrary). I’m really proud of the team for finding a way to center back one at-bat at a time to put us in a position to score when we needed it.”
The comeback marked Auburn’s 19th come-from-behind win this season, leading all Division I programs. The Tigers crushed 10 home runs during the three-game set — their most in an SEC series since hitting nine against South Carolina in 2022. McCrary’s walk-off was her second of the weekend and her fourth home run in the last four games against Georgia.
“It felt great,” McCrary said. “With that first stretch in SEC play, it was super tough. I tried to be a leader. I felt like I wasn’t playing my best ball and went internal. Just the way that my team has picked me up has pushed me through the season. I’m glad I was able to come through for Auburn.”
Georgia struck early, capitalizing on two walks and three stolen bases to score three runs in the top of the first. The Bulldogs tacked on the runs with a pair of RBI singles.
Bulldog starter Randi Roelling held Auburn to just one hit through four innings before Amelia Lech launched a solo home run in the fifth to put the Tigers on the board.
In the sixth, Auburn trimmed the deficit to one. After a walk drawn by Nelia Peralta, Icess Tresvik laid down a bunt that forced an errant throw, allowing Peralta to score and cut Georgia’s lead to 3-2.
Georgia answered in the top of the seventh. A leadoff double from Jaydyn Goodwin set up an RBI single with two outs to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-2.
But Auburn’s final turn at the plate would prove decisive.
Brockman led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single. Rose Roach was hit by a pitch, and Abbey Smith moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Peralta’s second walk of the game loaded the bases for AnnaLea Adams, who came through with a two-run single to tie the game 4-4.
Tresvik drew Auburn’s second walk of the inning to reload the bases for McCrary, who delivered the decisive blow — a grand slam to left field, the first of her career — to give Auburn its first series win over Georgia since 2022.
The Tigers’ bullpen was crucial in the comeback. Malayna Tamborra threw 2.2 scoreless innings and stranded six Georgia runners. Haley Rainey (6-3) earned the win after tossing the final 3.2 innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out two.
“Haley (Rainey) did a great job of making adjustments and keeping the ball down,” added Malveaux. “She had command of her change-up. Georgia saw Malayna (Tamborra) yesterday for three innings. She put herself in a position to get outs, and she hit her spots. Georgia never got comfortable to sit on things. If it wasn’t for those two, we were probably out of that game.”
Auburn will aim to make it three straight SEC series victories as it travels to face No. 7 Tennessee in its final road series of the regular season. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
