Friday's SEC opener between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs featured plenty of offensive fireworks that ended with the home team on top.
Georgia scored two runs on a two-out single from Lyndi Rae Davis to tie the game at 10-10 heading into the 7th inning, which paved the way for senior KK McCrary to be the hero. With one on and one out in the final frame, McCrary crushed a two-run home run over the right-center field wall to lift the Tigers to an 11-10 series-opening victory over rival Georgia at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.
The Tigers and Bulldogs put on an offensive clinic on Friday as the two teams combined to record 24 hits and seven home runs. Auburn, who opened SEC play with 12 straight losses, has now won three of its last four games against conference competition. Co-head coach Chris Malveaux says that his team played loose on Friday, which could be a sign that its early SEC struggles are starting to fade away.
"That's something that we have been waiting for for a long time. It feels like it is the second weekend of the season. That has been really the first time that we felt like we just let it all out and just totally let loose. Every pitch we were looking to win a game with," Malveaux said postgame. "I feel like it has kind of been there, and we see it from time to time in a big game against a big team. We have been waiting on this for a long time. (I'm) so excited to see that so many players that really just came in and said 'let's get after it.' It is just so awesome to see."
Auburn logged six home runs on the day, which set a new program record. McCrary's two-run, walk-off shot was her second of the day, following her solo home run in the 2nd inning to put Auburn ahead, 6-3. Rose Roach also notched two on the day, one in the 2nd inning and another in the 6th inning that broke an 8-8 tie. Malveaux discussed the amazing day at the plate for McCrary and Roach, and how proud he was to see the senior duo take a more relaxed approach at the plate.
"I think people that have seen KK (McCrary) over the years have seen that in her, and she has gotten into some moments, you can see in a certain string of weekends that she is trying to force things and start to struggle... bad luck... hitting balls right at people, and you see her starting to force it," Malveaux said. "I think one thing that a lot of have to remember is that it is hard to be a senior. You want everything to go as according to whatever the script is that your senior year. You start to struggle or things feel like they are falling apart, you start to question and try to invent ways to do things instead of just do what you do on a daily basis."
McCrary and Roach combined to record four home runs, five hits, and five RBI on the day. The duo was a part of a five-person tandem that recorded multiple hits in the game, joining Abbey Smith, AnnaLee Adams, and Icess Tresvik. Auburn set the tone of the series with strong offensive play and the ability to respond to Georgia's blows. It will be crucial to continue the trend on Saturday and Sunday in order to clinch its second-straight SEC series.
How to watch game two between Auburn and Georgia
- Date: Saturday, April 12
- Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
- Streaming: SEC Network+
- Radio: WEGL 91.1 FM in Auburn | Auburn Sports Network app
