AUBURN, Ala. (EETV)- Another stellar performance by freshman pitcher Shelby Lowe and a three-run homerun by Alyssa Rivera in the first inning throughout led the Auburn Tigers to a 5-3 victory over the #12 Kentucky Wildcats to take game one of the series. Auburn defeated Kentucky for the first time since 2018.
In game one between the two SEC contenders, Kentucky got on the board first with a single by Lauren Johnson allowing Kayla Kowalik to score.
Auburn was quick to answer back with Alyssa Rivera’s three run home run to left center to put the Tigers in front. This would mark Rivera’s first homerun of the season.
There was not much action for either squad in the second and third innings. Kentucky ended the scoring drought with a solo homerun by Renee Abernathy in the fourth inning. Lowe did not back down as the homerun was followed with two strikeouts from the freshman pitcher.
Auburn was able to get out of a jam in the fifth with two more strikeouts from Lowe and the Wildcats leaving the bases loaded.
In the sixth inning, Kentucky went down in order while Auburn was able to push another run across. Sophomore, Maddison Koepke hit a single allowing Justus Perry to reach home safe after an obstruction call for the Tiger’s fifth run.
The game ended in the top of the seventh with Lowe striking out Abernathy to secure the game one win over the Wildcats.
Lowe finished the game with 10 strikeouts and is now 12-3 as a starter this season.
Both teams will be back at Jane B. Moore field tomorrow Saturday, April 17th for game two of the series. It will begin at 11
a.m.
