Auburn's Tough Battle Against Oklahoma in Series Opener
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 24 Auburn Tigers kicked off their series against No.
6 Oklahoma with a promising start, thanks to a three-run blast from freshman standout Haven Roebuck. Despite the early fireworks, Auburn couldn't maintain the momentum, falling 13-5 to the Sooners in a six-inning showdown at Love’s Field.
This game was nothing short of a slugfest, featuring seven home runs between the two teams. Oklahoma sealed the deal in the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Allyssa Parker, clinching the series opener in style.
Co-head coach Chris Malveaux reflected on the game, saying, “I liked the way that we stayed competing. We had opportunities to make smarter decisions defensively that could have kept us in the game. Our pitchers did a solid job of mixing speeds and hitting spots, but Oklahoma capitalized on every mistake.”
Roebuck was a force at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs. Senior McKaela Walker also contributed a solo shot, continuing her impressive hitting streak.
Auburn utilized four pitchers in an attempt to disrupt Oklahoma’s rhythm. Redshirt freshman Abby Herndon took the loss, moving to 4-2 on the season. Freshman Charley Butler provided the longest relief stint, pitching 2.1 innings to close out the game.
The Tigers struck first with Roebuck’s three-run homer to center in the second inning, setting an early 3-0 lead. Senior Destiny Rodriguez's single and a hit by pitch set the stage for Roebuck’s big swing.
Oklahoma responded fiercely, scoring nine runs in their half of the inning, aided by three home runs and a couple of Auburn errors.
Despite the setback, Auburn fought back with solo homers from Walker in the third and Roebuck in the fourth, trimming the deficit to four. However, Oklahoma extended their lead with a three-run homer from Gabbie Garcia in the fourth, eventually wrapping up the game in the sixth.
Game Highlights
- Haven Roebuck launched her first SEC home run, marking her sixth of the season and the second multi-home run game of her career. Her perfect 3-for-3 performance tied her career high in hits.
- McKaela Walker's home run in the third inning extended her hitting streak to 11 games. It was her ninth homer of the season and the 11th of her career.
- Auburn has hit multiple home runs in 12 of their 27 games this season, boasting a 10-2 record in those contests.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers aim to bounce back and even the series on Saturday, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the action on SEC Network+ or listen locally on WEGL 91.1 FM.
Home Sweet Home
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field on Wednesday for Fan Appreciation Night against Jacksonville State at 6 p.m.
CT. Fans attending can enjoy giveaways and special deals at the park.