In another game in which Auburn (18-10-1, 3-5 SEC) trailed early in the contest, the comeback fell short as the Tigers could not overcome an early 4-0 deficit to UAB (10-18, 3-5 C-USA) falling 6-5 to the Blazers in Birmingham.
The game started about as poorly as it could have for the Tigers, with two runs scored on bases loaded walks in the first inning before a two-out, two-RBI single by Mayes White ended the scoring in the top of the first, giving the Blazers a 4-0.
“I just wanted them to fight,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “It was a good game back and forth. We got the bases loaded in the eighth, and then they loaded them in the bottom of the ninth and get the run to beat us. I just wanted our guys to fight. All of the other stuff will kind of work its way out throughout a ballgame. I liked the fight regardless of the outcome tonight.”
Thompson turned to his bullpen once the lead got to four, bringing in Parker Carlson who was able to close out the inning and hold the Blazers scoreless in the second. Carlson's success would not last as he only made it 1.1 innings before another change was made and Thompson went Trevor Horne. The Tigers used seven pitchers in the midweek contest.
Auburn was looking for its 10th comeback win of the season, and 32nd since the start of 2022, and the Tigers were nearly there when they tied the game in the fourth and even took the lead in the top of the seventh. But then, much like on Sunday, UAB answered the challenge with a lead-off double by Tyler Waugh in the bottom of the seventh leading to a bunt single RBI by Logan Braunschweig and another tie.
The eighth inning was scoreless despite Auburn having the bases loaded in the top of eighth, then UAB secured the win with Henry Hunter's bases-loaded single, scoring Waugh and giving the Blazers a crucial walk-off win
Auburn will have one day of rest before returning to Plainsman Park for a Thursday-Saturday series against Texas A&M (18-11, 3-6 SEC). First pitch for the Thursday game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. UAB travels to play a non-conference series against Dallas Baptist this weekend.
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