No. 25 Auburn (15-9-1, 2-7) was swept by No. 12 Texas A&M (28-4, 8-1) this weekend in College Station. The Tigers battled in the first two games against the Aggies losing 5-1 and 3-2 in the first two games, but were run-ruled in the series finale 14-6.
Auburn changed things up in the series' first game, giving the ball to senior Shelby Lowe instead of ace Maddie Penta. Lowe pitched well retiring ten straight at one point, but did give up three earned runs in five innings. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they could only muster one run which came on a RBI single from infielder Rose Roach in the third inning.
"We had great effort," said Auburn head coach Mickey Dean after game one. "Our execution wasn't quite what we needed it to be. We didn't get any runs in our two bases-loaded opportunities."
Game two would be equally, if not more deflating for Auburn. Ace Maddie Penta took the mound in game two and was strong. Penta threw a complete game allowing three runs on five hits. Despite minimal damage given up, Auburn struggled to score runs once again. Anna Wohlers and Amelia Lech's solo home runs were the only Tigers to cross home plate in game two causing Auburn to fall 3-2.
Maddie Penta once again took to the circle for Auburn in game three as the Tigers hoped to avoid the sweep. Auburn could not have drawn up a better start, scoring six runs in the top of the second to take a 6-1 lead. Lech drew a lead-off walk to start the inning and began a rally for the Tigers. After a couple of singles, the bases were loaded for third baseman Annabelle Widra who drove in the tying run.
The Tigers then drew a walk to take the lead before Mariah Penta who replaced the injured Rose Roach hit a grand slam giving Auburn the big lead. However, it would not last. The Aggies tied the game at six with a five-run third inning and never looked back from that point.
"Texas A&M cut open with the bats, Dean said. "Our younger pitchers struggled a bit."
Texas A&M added seven more runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to run-rule the Tigers. It was a demoralizing loss for Auburn and it only added insult to injury that the loss completed a sweep for Texas A&M. The Tigers have now lost each of their first three series so far in SEC play.
Despite the poor start to conference play, there is still plenty of time to right the ship. Auburn will return home to face Tennessee this upcoming weekend at Jane B. Moore field. The series will begin at 5:00 p.m. Friday and will air on SEC Network+ and the Auburn Sports Network.
