The Auburn Tigers traveled up to College Station, TX this weekend to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in a three-game set. Auburn came into this series after dropping two out of three games against Ole Miss at home last weekend and knocking off South Alabama 13-12 in Montgomery Tuesday night. Texas A&M came into this series after winning two out of three games against LSU in Baton Rouge, LA last weekend and beating Rice 15-8 in Houston, TX Tuesday night.
In the first game, Jordan Armstrong was the starting pitcher for Auburn and Joseph Menefee was the starter for Texas A&M. Texas A&M got the scoring started as Austin Bost tagged up on a Troy Claunch flyout to center field in the bottom of the second inning. Auburn put together a rally in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Aggies had some good offensive production in the fifth and sixth innings as they scored four and held a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning. Brooks Carlson hit a key double in the top of the ninth inning that would score Josh Hall and Blake Rambusch. Nine innings was not enough and this one was heading to extra innings. Rambusch hit a single in the top of the 10th inning that scored Nate LaRue. Blake Burkhalter nailed down the save in the bottom of the 10th inning and Auburn took game one 6-5. When asked about this opening performance, head coach Butch Thompson said, “We got back to some clean baseball, and we just fought.” He added, “What I care about is how these guys are fighting, and we get a chance to throw down again tomorrow.”
For the second game, Chase Isbell took the mound for the Tigers and Brad Rudis took it for the Aggies. Auburn got off to a hot start in this game, as they held a 4-0 lead going into the fifth inning. Texas A&M got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Dylan Rock hit a single that scored Logan Britt. The Aggies would tack on one run in each of the next three innings, tying the game at four going into the ninth inning. Once again, nine innings was not enough. Logan Britt scored the walk-off run for Texas A&M as he tagged up on a Kole Kaler flyout to center field. Texas A&M took game two by a score of 5-4. When asked about his thoughts on the disappointing loss, head coach Butch Thompson said, “The effort and what the guys did to compete and battle was tremendous”. He added, “That's what I ask for every day. It was the same last night. That one break just didn't come out our way.”
In the series finale, Tommy Sheehan got the nod for Auburn and Ryan Prager got it for Texas A&M. The Aggies scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by three Auburn runs in the top of the second inning. This cycle repeated itself in the bottom of the second inning and top of the third inning, tying the game at six. Auburn would ride a big seventh and eight inning to give them a comfortable lead going into the ninth inning. Once again, Blake Burkhalter would nail down the save in the bottom of the ninth inning. Auburn took game three by a score of 13-9.
Auburn will be back in action at home Tuesday night as they host the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Plainsman Park. First pitch is at 6:00 P.M.
