The Auburn baseball team traveled to Texas last Friday to face off against Oklahoma, Baylor, and Texas A&M in the Round Rock Classic.
The Tigers got off to a rocky start, facing their first loss of the season against Oklahoma, losing 4-3, followed by a loss against Baylor, losing 12-6. Auburn rounded off the weekend with a 12-4 win over SEC rivals Texas A&M.
Auburn started the series by playing Oklahoma on Friday in a disappointing game for the Tigers. In the top of the first inning, a succession of two singles from leadoff hitter Judd Ward and junior Ryan Bliss put the Tigers in scoring position. With two runners on base, Bryson Ware grounded into a double play but allowed Ward to make it home to put Auburn up 1-0. Auburn showed their strength again in the top of the third inning with Ryan Bliss and Steven Williams hitting home runs off Oklahoma pitcher Wyatt Olds to make the score 3-0.
Oklahoma kept the Tigers’s bats quiet the rest of the game and managed to eat away at their lead. Tyler Hardman helped put the Sooners on the board, hitting a single to bring in Brandon Zaragoza in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Sooners scored another run in the eighth and tied the game with a Hardman sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Auburn pitcher Seb Thomas got two outs before loading the bases. Hardman singled to right field, securing the win for the Sooners with a final score of 4-3.
Auburn faced another challenging game against Baylor the next day. The Bears opened the top of the first inning with a leadoff home run from Jared McKenzie. The Tigers struggled to get into the game, staying scoreless for the first three innings while Baylor continued to put points on the board. In the top of the third inning, sophomore Antonio Valdez reached base on a throwing error and McKenzie followed up by scoring his second home run of the game.
The Tigers made their first mark on the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Tyler Miller got to second base after reaching first on catcher’s interference and a wild pitch. Outfielder Kason Howell singled to right field to send Miller home for Auburn’s first run of the game.
Baylor continued to widen its lead in the top of the fifth inning. After allowing two singles, Brooks Fuller entered the game to pitch for Richard Fitts. Fuller walked catcher Andy Thomas, loading the bases. He stuck out Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo, but a passed ball allowed all the runners to advance and McKenzie to score. Three singles in a row from Davion Downey, Kyle Nevin, and Valdez increased the Bears’s lead to eight runs.
A rally in the bottom of the ninth inning was not enough for Auburn to close the deficit. With one out left and two men on base, Miller hit a triple to send John Samuel Shenker and Brayton Brown home. Howell ushered Miller to home plate again with a single to third base, but that would be Auburn’s last run. The Tigers lost to their second Big 12 opponent with the game ending 12-6 Baylor.
Auburn was not ready to give up just yet. The Tigers faced their fellow SEC West member Texas A&M on Sunday to close the series. Both teams took time to get into the game, remaining scoreless for the first three inning, but it would be the Tigers who stuck first. In the top of the first inning, Miller doubled down the right field line and Howell singled to send him running. Miller scored the only run of the inning to get the Tigers on the board.
The game remained tight through the sixth inning with Auburn’s Trace Bright on the mound. Bright pitched six complete innings allowing two walks and three runs while facing 22 batters. Auburn had a strong showing in the seventh inning, after loading the bases and getting an out on a fielder’s choice at home plate, Williams singled to right field to score two runs. The Tigers scored two more runs in the top of the eighth inning after Miller singled to send Brody Moore home and Ware scored an unearned run on an error. Auburn scored for a final time in the top of the ninth inning off a Rankin Woley single which saw Bliss reach home plate. Auburn finished the Round Rock Classic with a score line of 6-1 against the Aggies.
Auburn will play its next game against Jacksonville State in Plainsman Park on Tuesday before hosting Xavier in a four-game series, including a doubleheader on Saturday.
