AUBURN – The Auburn Tigers hosted the Ole Miss Rebels at Plainsman Park this weekend and dropped two out of three games.
Auburn lost game 1 11-7 and game 2 5-4 before picking up a 10-9 victory in game 3 to avoid the sweep.
Ole Miss took control in the top of the third inning during the season opener and never gave it up.
None of Auburn's pitchers were able to settle in either. Dylan Watts got the start for the Tigers and only lasted three innings and allowed five runs.
“They got two big swings off, two three-run homers, and we didn’t,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “I think the hits were about even, 14-13, but I don’t think we had an extra-base hit. That was the biggest difference to me in the ballgame. We didn’t get the big hit to keep pace.”
Auburn got out in front early in game 2, but Ole Miss evened things up. The Rebels had a run scored off a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning to bring across to go-ahead run.
Each of Auburn's four hits belonged to a different player.
John Armstrong was Auburn's best pitcher, allowing just one run off one hit while striking six batters out in 3.2 innings of work.
“I felt like we shot for the pin a little bit,” Thompson said. “The sac fly was the difference tonight. We finished with four hits. Too many times being on the wrong side of that or not having that last punch has been the story of the journey.”
Auburn got down early in the series finale but did not go away and came back in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kaleb Freeman hit an RBI single to score Mason Maners, and Javon Hernandez scored on a passed ball to walk it off.
Chase Allsup was Auburn's most impactful pitcher in the series finale, allowing just one run off four hits in 4.2 innings while striking nine batters out.
Auburn is now 22-24 on the season and 4-20 in SEC play.
The Tigers return to action on Tuesday night when they take on the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets in Atlanta at 5 p.m. CT.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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