The Auburn Tigers (18-14, SEC: 2-10) fell short to the Alabama State Hornets (14-16, SWAC: 5-6) losing 3-2. This is the third game Auburn has lost in a row as the outlook does not improve before a big SEC series with No. 8 Kentucky.
"It felt like offensively we were getting to them (late), but too much length out of the starter, too much length out of the first reliever. I think it helped them get to the finish line," head coach Butch Thompson said. "The bats were not competitive enough, for sure, but it was an accumulation of a lot of different things."
Starting for the Hornets was Luis Rodriguez would pitched four innings giving up three of Auburn’s five hits, including a single from Carter Wright who brought home the games first run Auburn’s after Gavin Miller reached home after being hit by pitch.
This would be Auburn’s only run which fell behind after two home runs hit in the top of the seventh inning and eighth by Ali LaPread, and Randy Flores respectively. A third run was added in the top of the ninth as Juan Cruz reached on an error that also scored Ali Lapread, leading to a score of 3-1 going into the Tiger’s final three out.
The bottom of the ninth started out hot for the Tigers as Cade Belyeu hit a triple that gave hope to the fans in attendance, he would score as Chris Stanfield flew out to right field and would score Belyeu on the sacrifice. This would be the only scoring by the Tigers as Auburn fell 3-2 with two runners stranded on base after two straight walks.
This loss would be Auburn’s first midweek loss of the season after winning seven straight in the past.
"The positive is the bounce back from Christian Herberholz," Thompson said. "He did a nice job for five innings.
Herberzolz would make his fourth consecutive midweek start putting in five innings of work with four strikeouts, no walks, and retiring 10 straight from the second to the fifth inning.
Caio Arajo would grab the win his second of the season, while Zach Crothfelt got the loss moving to 1-1 on the year, and Jordan Laboy got his first save.
The Tigers will be back in Plainsmen Park this Thursday through Saturday as the Tigers look to win there first SEC series win. The Auburn Sports Network will have the radio broadcast.
