Weekend Review: Auburn Softball falls in SEC Tournament Semi-Finals

Haley Fagan had two hits in Saturday's game with LSU (Photo: Auburn Athletic/Dakota Sumpter)

Auburn Softball traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee in hopes of bringing home a third-straight SEC Tournament Championship. The Tigers earned a second round win over Kentucky but fell short in Saturday’s semi-final action to LSU. THURSDAY-- AUBURN 2 KENTUCKY 0 Kentucky starting pitcher Erin Rethlake was phenomenal in Thursday’s game with Auburn, only allowing three hits to the Tigers. However, one of those hits provided enough power to move Auburn ahead, and to pick up the win in the first meeting between the two teams this season. With the scored tied at zero, and with two outs in the sixth inning, Alyssa Rivera reached base after taking ball four, bringing Kendall Veach to the plate. With Veach down to her final strike of the inning, the sophomore sent the 1-2 pitch over the right field wall, giving Auburn the 2-0 advantage. The Auburn defense aided Kaylee Carlson in the top of the seventh inning by sitting down the Wildcats in order, picking up the win. Veach’s home run was the ultimate decider. Joining Veach in the hit column, were Alyssa Rivera and Kasey Cooper. The trio had one hit a piece. Katie Reed and Brooklin Hinz each had two hits for Kentucky. SATURDAY-- LSU 6 AUBURN 0 With thunderstorms plaguing the Knoxville area on Friday, the SEC Tournament semifinals were forced to move to Saturday, meaning that the semifinal winners would need to win two games on Saturday in order to be crowned tournament champions. LSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning when Amber Serrett singled home Shemiah Sanchez from second base with two down. The Bayou Bengals scored the remaining five runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of four Auburn errors. Carlson was lifted in the inning, her outing lasted 4.1 innings, with six runs scored, only one earned. Makayla Martin pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits. Haley Fagan led the team with two hits. Victoria Draper, Carlee Wallace, and Alyssa Rivera each had a hit. Kaylee Carlson and Kendall Veach were named to the All-SEC Tournament team. Auburn’s season continues in the NCAA Tournament beginning Friday at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn. Auburn hosts East Tennessee State, California, and Notre Dame in the Auburn Regional.