AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn?s Jorja Bell hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom half of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie to claim the second game of a doubleheader Saturday in Auburn. The home squad Tigers took game one 14-1, and then earned a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Sophomore Destinee Mordecai smacked her second career home run and freshman Meagan Aull extended her streak of having a hit in every SEC series this season with a single in the top of the first to lead the way for the Wildcats in game two.
Kentucky struck first for the second consecutive game with a score in the bottom of the first. Senior Audrey Meyer drew a lead off walk for the second time in two games. Freshman Megan Yocke laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner, and then Meyer scooted over to third on a deep fly ball to right field off the bat of sophomore Natalie Smith. Meyer came into score as sophomore Molly Johnson reached on an error by Auburn?s second baseman. The inning ended on a groundout, but not until the Wildcats took an early 1-0 edge.
After sitting the Tigers down in order in the home half of the first, UK got back-to-back two-out singles from freshman Sam DeMartine and Meyer. The inning ended on a groundout without the Wildcats extending their lead.
Auburn knotted the score at one a piece with a single score in the bottom of the second. The Tigers began the inning with a double that found a gap in left-center. UK got the next two batters to pop up to the pitcher and fly out to left, but the runner on second was able to steal third putting in her prime scoring position. She came home on an RBI single up the middle, and the inning ended on a strikeout.
The home squad inched ahead with a run in the bottom of the third. The Tigers got three hits in the inning to take a 2-1 edge.
UK struck back in the top of the fourth as Mordecai lifted her solo home run over the left field wall making the score 2-2.
Kentucky opened the scoring in the first game, plating a run in the top half of the first. Meyer opened with a walk, but was quickly put out on a fielder?s choice during Yocke?s at bat. Smith singled up the middle, putting runners on first and second. Johnson scored Yocke with a single down the left field line. UK ended the inning on another fielder?s choice and a strikeout after taking the early 1-0 lead.
Auburn fired back immediately with three runs in the home half of the inning. The Tigers scored three times on three hits to take a 3-1 edge. The home squad then erupted for an 11-run fourth inning to claim the victory 14-1.
The two teams will reconvene for a single game Sunday. First pitch is slated for a 1 p.m. CT toss. Live results and complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
