April 12, 2016
Anfernee Grier had a career-high five hits on Tuesday. (Auburn Photo)
KENNESAW, Ga. -- Anfernee Grier had a career high five hits, but Auburn baseball fell 6-5 to Kennesaw State on Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
"We got to a sluggish start and I thought the difference in the game was the first inning and the fourth inning," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "With two outs, they knocked in their runs. The guys stayed in there. Izaac Yarbrough really gave us a chance to get back in it. We really battled to get back in it."
Jordan Ebert had three hits and one RBI. He reached base five times. Grier had two stolen bases.
Yarbrough pitched a career-long 3.2 innings in relief. He struck out a career-best five.
Kennesaw State (15-19) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning capitalizing on two Daniel Sprinkle walks and three hits.
The Tigers (15-18) got one back in the second with Cody Nulph coming across on a wild pitch, but KSU came back with one in the bottom half to leave it 4-1.
The Owls added two in the fourth to stretch their lead to 6-1.
Tony Dibrell (1-3) got the win with one run allowed in five innings.
Ebert picked up an RBI with a run-scoring single in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-2.
Auburn starter Daniel Sprinkle allowed four runs in 1-2 innings pitched. He dropped to 1-1 on the season.
The Tigers scored three in the ninth on RBI by Cody Nulph and Grier. A run also scored when Damon Haecker grounded into a double play.
Auburn's next action is on Thursday when it opens a three-game SEC series with Tennessee at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park.