It was another weekend to forget for Auburn in Starkville as the Tigers lose both games of the double header to the Bulldogs. The Tigers have still yet to win a series in SEC play this season, only having won two conference games. The games marked the Tigers’ sixth and seventh losses by one or two runs in Southeastern Conference play.
“We have, time-and-time again in these games, gotten exactly where we wanted to with our personnel, so we’ll keep trying some different stuff,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “Offensively, we’re in a tough spot with Bobby (Peirce) and some of these guys. That’s been tough, but I thought we were going to find a way to win a ballgame with only two hits there in the last because (Carson) Myers did an amazing job for us, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
In game one, the Tigers pitching defense was able to step up, fighting back after allowing base runners in the early innings. However, that was short lived as the Bulldogs took the lead thanks to a Connor Hujsak single in the fourth inning, eventually coming how to score on a one-out single, beating Cade Belyeu’s throw home. The Bulldogs would eventually score a second run in the inning off an E6 by Cooper Weiss. Auburn would show some fight in the fifth, thanks to a solo shot from Kaleb Freeman. This would be short-lived thanks to a Hunter Hines single that would bring home David Mershon to give the Bulldogs the two run lead back. Auburn would try to rally in the ninth with a two-out walk and back-to-back singles from Carter Wright and Cooper Weiss, but a flyout to right field would end the game, giving Auburn it’s sixth straight series loss in SEC play.
Game two would start off similar to game one with the Bulldogs getting on the board first, taking the 1-0 lead on back-to-back singles and a wild pitch in between them in the bottom of the second. Auburn would fight back again, thanks to Ike Irish working a bases loaded walk, scoring Christian Hall, followed up by a Carter Wright fielder’s choice that would score Cooper McMurray, giving the Tigers the 2-1 lead. Another fielder’s choice off the bat of Eric Guevara would extend the Tigers lead over the Bulldogs to 3-1 in the top of the fourth. The Tigers bullpen struggles continued in the seventh, giving up two singles, followed up by a two-RBI double from Logan Kohler, tying the game at three. The Tigers were able to get out of the inning, sending the game to extras. After going down in order in the eighth, the Tigers were almost able to get out of the eight, but a line drive off the diving glove of Deric Fabian at third base would find it’s way into left field, scoring the winning run for Mississippi, giving the Bulldogs the weekend sweep. This is the second straight SEC series Auburn has been swept in and their fourth SEC sweep of the year.
Auburn returns to Plainsman Park for a midweek game against Florida A&M (20-18) Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network + before hitting the road for a series at LSU (24-16, 4-13 SEC) next weekend.
