FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Auburn softball was limited to a pair of hits while Arkansas relied on home runs to defeat the Tigers, 4-0, Sunday at Bogle Park to clinch the series.
Five of Arkansas’ six hits went for extra bases. The Razorbacks (32-5, 7-4 SEC) slugged three home runs, accounting for all four of their runs.
“I felt like we pitched and played defense well enough to win that game,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “SJ (Geurin) did a great job of attacking the zone and making Arkansas make some tough decisions. The three balls they happened to square up all left the yard. That’s the difference in the game.
“It’s just where we’re at right now. No matter how we got here, it feels like whatever can go wrong is going wrong. We’ve just got to scrap and fight and find our way out of it.”
Auburn (23-15, 2-9 SEC) had a baserunner reach safely in six of seven innings but couldn’t push across a run. Junior Alyssa Hastings and freshman Daigle Wilson each recorded a single in the contest. The Tigers also drew six free passes to create traffic on the basepaths.
Starting pitcher junior SJ Geurin (5-5) retired the first five batters she faced in order, but Arkansas snapped that streak with a solo home run from Atalyia Rijo. Geurin and the Tiger defense settled in to hold the Razorbacks to the lone run until the fourth inning when a pair of home runs extended the lead to 4-0.
Freshman Charley Butler was a bright spot in the contest, tossing a scoreless inning of relief to retire the side in order in the sixth.
“The biggest thing is mentally we have to stick together as a team and not get caught up in the outside noise,” Malveaux added. “We have to stay together. We have to keep our heads down. We have to keep scrapping and fighting. It’s going to happen. We have to stay 'hands on the pavement' and get after it.”
GAME NOTES
- Kylie Shaw drew a walk in the third inning to extend her reached base streak to 11 consecutive games. She has reached safely in 37 of 38 contests this season.
UP NEXT
Monday’s series finale is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will air on SEC Network. Fans can listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM or stream the broadcast on the Auburn Tigers website and mobile app.
BACK AT HOME
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field April 10-12 to host in-state rival No. 4 Alabama for a three-game series. It is Alumni Weekend on the Plains as Auburn will honor former players in attendance during a pregame ceremony on Sunday.
Fans are asked to wear navy for Friday’s opener. Shakers will be available while supplies last. Saturday marks the SEC’s annual “All for Alex” game. Teams across the league will wear teal in honor of Alex Wilcox, a former Mississippi State softball student-athlete who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2018. Sunday’s finale is the “All Auburn, All Orange” game with Auburn softball shirts available while supplies last.