March 25, 2017
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 4 Auburn softball team dropped the opening game of its SEC series at No. 2 Florida, 4-3. The Tigers (27-4, 2-2 SEC) had five hits, including two for extra bases, and drew five walks in the seven-inning contest Saturday evening.
Eight different players in the lineup reached base, highlighted by doubles from Casey McCrackin and Courtney Shea, who also contributed with one RBI apiece.
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Victoria Draper rounded out the offense with her fourth RBI of the season.
In the circle, Kaylee Carlson struck out four and allowed just two earned runs in her 17th start of 2017.
The Gators (28-1, 6-0) scored two in the second inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Auburn responded and took the lead after scoring runs in both the fourth and fifth frames.
In the top of the fourth, following a McCrackin double, Draper bounced a two-strike pitch to the shortstop and legged out an infield single to cut the deficit to one.
Haley Fagan started the next stanza with a leadoff single and worked her way around to score when Shea flared an RBI double to left field to knot the game up at 2-2.
McCrackin then gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead when she pushed a squeeze bunt far enough that scored a pinch-running Bree Fornis from third.
After a clean sixth, Auburn was held in check at the plate and took a one-run lead into the home half of the seventh.
Florida hit a leadoff single and tried to advance the runner into scoring position, but Kasey Cooper scooped up the bunt and fired it over to second to get the lead runner and register the first out.
However, the Gators reached on an error and hit a two-run single to center to win the game, 4-3.
Auburn and Florida get back to action Sunday night at 6 p.m. CT. The game is set to broadcast on ESPN2, 95.5 FM and the official Auburn app.