Sophomore Briana Little has been locked in against Auburn.
But despite her series success, the Gators couldn’t hold off a streaky Tigers team Saturday morning at Jane B. Moore Field.
No. 4 Florida (24-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) dropped its second game of a three-game series to Auburn (18-6, 1-1 SEC) 5-4.
Little has led Florida at the plate in the first two games of the series. She went 2 for 3 with three RBI and one run scored on Saturday. Little uncorked a three-run homer over the left-center scoreboard in the top of the third to break up a 1-1 tie.
But Auburn showed moxie in spite of the early deficit. In the next frame, Auburn’s McKenzie Kilpatrick hit a line-drive single past second base for her first RBI of the series.
With a scoreless inning tossed by Marcy Harper in the following frame, the Tigers were back at the plate in search of runs. Sophomore Brandi Melero recorded an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning to bring Auburn within 4-2.
Following the single, coach Tim Walton pulled pitcher Lauren Haeger in favor of Hannah Rogers after Haeger surrendered six hits and four runs on four innings pitched. Auburn’s Brook Lathan was Rogers’ first batter faced with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Lathan scored on a sac fly to tie things up at 4-4 before Rogers shut down the side.
In the next inning, Florida was unable to produce any offense and went hitless for the second consecutive frame.
But Auburn took advantage in the bottom of the sixth.
McKenzie Kilpatrick jacked a solo home run to give the Tigers a 5-4 edge over the Gators with just one inning left to play. It was Kilpatrick’s second RBI of the series, and more importantly, it gave Auburn a 1-point cushion with little time left to play.
Harper (8-2) took to the mound in the seventh and shut down Florida with two fly outs and a fielder’s choice to help split the series.
The Gators and Tigers play the third and final game of the series Sunday at 2 p.m.
Coach Tim Walton signals to a base runner during Florida’s 3-1 victory against Auburn on April 14, 2012 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton has started freshman Taylor Schwarz at first base in every Southeastern Conference game.
