May 3, 2013
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN -- Another tough night at the plate left Auburn coach John Pawlowski saying his Tigers have little choice but to continue to try to find their way of their hitting slump.
"We've got to find a way to manufacture some runs," Pawlowski said.
That didn't happen Friday night when Ole Miss won 6-1. And it didn't happen in the previous six games, either. Auburn has scored only one run in each of its last three games. The Tigers scored 1, 3, 3 and zero runs in the four conference games before that.
"These guys have to understand it could turn around so quickly. I know they believe that," Pawlowski said. "I just want to see our offense have some success and gain some confidence. Unfortunately, they haven't had that the last several games."
Auburn fell to 25-19 overall and 7-15 in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss improved to 33-14 overall and 12-10 in the league.
The teams are scheduled to play the second game of the three-game series at 2:15 p.m. Saturday. Michael O'Neal, Auburn's top pitcher with a 8-3 record and a 2.34 ERA, will face Mike Mayers, who is 3-4 with a 2.84 ERA.
Friday night's game was scoreless after three innings. But in the fourth, Preston Overbey hit a 3-run homer. Garrett Cooper hit a homer for Auburn.
"I thought Connor did a very good job, but unfortunately he left one ball over the plate," Pawlowski said. "When you're not doing a lot offensively, one pitch, one play could mean the difference, and it certainly was tonight."
Ole Miss had 13 hits. Auburn had five.