KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Auburn softball (27-20, 4-17 SEC) mounted some late offense, but it was not enough as No. 4 Tennessee (37-9, 11-7 SEC) held on Saturday for a 4-1 win at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
“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.”
After a scoreless first frame, the Tigers found themselves in trouble in the bottom of the second as an error and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs. A wild pitch brought in an unearned run to put the Lady Vols on the board.
Tennessee’s Sage Mardjetko and Auburn’s Malayna Tamborra, who entered the game in relief in the third, traded a pair of scoreless innings and only allowed three combined hits until the fifth. A double and intentional walk led off the frame before Tennessee plated three runs off a pair of singles to build its 4-0 lead.
The Tigers were held to a lone hit until the top of the sixth. Abbey Smith picked up her second infield hit of the contest as she singled to shortstop before moving herself into scoring position with a stolen base. She’d come around to score on an AnnaLea Adams single to center.
Amelia Lech knocked Auburn’s fourth hit of the contest with a two-out single in the seventh, but Auburn was unable to bring home any additional runs.
It was a staff game in the circle for the Tigers as Icess Tresvik, Tamborra and SJ Geurin all tossed a pair of innings. Tresvik did not allow a hit and struck out three in the start. She was charged with the unearned run in the second inning and was on record for the loss to fall to 0-3 in the circle.
UP NEXT
Auburn hits the road for the final time in the regular season as the Tigers trek to South Alabama Wednesday. First pitch on ESPN+ is set for 6 p.m. CT.