AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) – After winning their first series in SEC play last weekend in Lexington vs Kentucky, Auburn looked to gain momentum for the rest of their SEC season with a weekday doubleheader against UAB, who the Tigers had beaten 13 straight times dating back to 2003. Auburn and the Blazers split the doubleheader at Jane B. Moore Field, with the Tigers winning the first game before losing for the first time to UAB in 22 years in game two, 4-3.
The first game was a masterclass from the Auburn defense and starting pitcher Haley Rainey, who earned her fourth victory on the season, pitching an Auburn career season high six innings, only allowing four hits and one unearned run. Auburn’s defense stayed behind her and made the necessary plays to stop the UAB offense in their tracks.
The Auburn offense scored the first of their six runs in the home half of the second as Amelia Lech hit a sacrifice grounder that scored Icess Tresvik. The Lady Tigers followed up this run with four more in the bottom of the third. Tresvik singled to right to bring Rose Roach and Nelia Peralta around before AnnaLea Adams scored on a throwing error. The final run of the inning came off the bat of Anna Wohlers double which brought around KK McCrary.
The Blazers scored in the fourth off a triple from Britt Bourgoyne, but the freshman phenom AnnaLea Adams extended the lead back to five with a towering solo shot in the fifth. Malayna Tamborra came in to finish off the Blazers in the seventh and Auburn took game on, 6-1.
Game two started on a different note with Icess Tresvik in the circle to start for Auburn. UAB quickly put two on base and intentionally walked Lindsey Smith after both advanced a base, then two scored on a couple of wild pitches from Tresvik and a single from Alyssa Aguilar added another for the Blazers, putting them up 3-0 early. Auburn quickly brought SJ Geurin into the circle and she ended the inning.
Auburn found their first runs in an attempt to work their way back into it as Ma’Nia Womack ripped a double off of the wall in left-center to score Anna Wohlers before stealing home on a Blazer throwing error. UAB quickly added some insurance after a grounder slipped through Anna Wohlers legs at third, with the Blazers scoring off the error. Auburn struck back to make it one in the bottom of the fourth as Aubrie Lisenby notched a double to bring Wohlers around.
That was as close as Auburn would get, as UAB’s Caitlin Russel would slam the door shut with three straight outs in the seventh to give the Blazers their first win against Auburn in over 20 years. Auburn had a season-high four errors in the second game, leading to all four UAB runs being counted as unearned for the matchup.
Auburn is now 25-16 and will host number 20 Georgia this weekend at Jane B. Moore Field for three matchups in what should be another great chance to earn some momentum in conference play. You can watch the game Friday on SEC Network and the games on Saturday and Sunday on SEC Network+. You can also tune into the games on WEGL 91.1 or the Auburn Sports Network.
