Feb. 28, 2016
First baseman Niko Buentello hit his third home run of the season on Sunday. (Auburn Photo)
AUBURN, Ala. - Junior first baseman Niko Buentello had three hits including his third home run of the season, but it wasn't enough as Auburn baseball fell 6-5 to Southern University in the finale of the series Sunday at Plainsman Park.
"We tried to rally late," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "That's three one-run games that we've lost. You have to respect everybody that you play in Division I baseball. It's a loss and we have to keep working and continuing to get better."
Southern (1-5) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a three-run home run by John Pope.
The Jaguars chased Auburn starter Gabe Klobosits in the fifth as they widened the lead to 5-1 on a two-run single by Javeayan Williams.
Klobosits took the loss with five runs allowed in 3.1 innings pitched.
Auburn (4-3) scored runs in the third and fifth innings on a RBI double by Joshua Palacios and a run-scoring base hit from Buentello.
Palacios and Buentello both finished with three hits. Cody Nulph and Daniel Robert had two.
The Tigers got back two more runs with a Damon Haecker RBI ground out in the sixth and a solo home run by Buentello in the seventh.
The homer was Buentello's third of the season and gave Auburn home runs in seven consecutive games for the first time since 2010.
Southern added a run in the eighth, but the Tigers got one back in the bottom half on a balk to leave it 6-5.
Justin Freeman (1-0) got the victory with 2.2 innings of relief. Starter Daniel Franklin allowed two runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings.
Troy Lewis moved over from shortstop to pitch the final 1.2 innings for his first save of the season.
Casey Mize pitched 52. innings in relief for Auburn. He allowed only three hits and one unearned run with three strikeouts and no walks.
Dondrayas Harris and Anthony Valdes had two hits for the Jaguars.
Auburn is in action next on Tuesday when it hosts Alabama A&M for the first game of a two-game midweek series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.