Auburn softball built an early lead with three home runs but ultimately lost to Oklahoma, 8-5, on March 14 as the Sooners clinched the series at Love’s Field.
The matchup saw Auburn, ranked No. 24, take a 5-1 advantage over No. 6 Oklahoma before the Sooners responded with seven unanswered runs. The Tigers recorded seven hits and matched their previous game by hitting three home runs off Oklahoma pitchers. Ella Harrison pitched a complete game for Auburn, becoming the first pitcher this season to do so against Oklahoma while limiting them to one home run.
“It was costly mistakes and on the field in the end,” said co-head coach Chris Malveaux. “Unfair to Ella (Harrison). It sucks to look at her and say, ‘that’s the final.’ She got after it, competed and gave us a chance to win it. We have a hard time of learning to not take a pitch off for some reason. I know we’re young, but we can’t be doing that. It’s an opportunity blown. I did like the way we came out. We were really attacking the game plan. We got to do a better job of adjusting on a pitching change in that situation. It’s hard to look Ella in the eyes after she laid it out in the in a circle for the entire game. She gave us a chance to win. We’ve got to take care of the ball.”
Ma’Nia Womack led Auburn offensively by reaching base all three times at bat, including two hits and a home run that brought in two runs batted in (RBI). AnnaLea Adams also had multiple hits and added a solo home run for Auburn.
Auburn started strong with Alyssa Hastings hitting a two-run homer following Kylie Shaw’s leadoff walk. Womack followed up with another home run in the second inning, and Adams extended Auburn’s lead with her own solo shot in the third inning.
Oklahoma rallied late as Kasidi Pickering hit a home run during their comeback effort, tying the score by the fifth inning before taking control with three more runs in the sixth inning.
The teams will meet again Sunday for the series finale at Love’s Field at noon Central Time on SEC Network.
