March 10, 2017
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AUBURN, Ala. -- Keegan Thompson set a new program record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a season with 23.2, but Auburn baseball fell 11-8 to Presbyterian Friday at Plainsman Park.
"I thought we came out swinging the bat really good from top to bottom in our lineup," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "Keegan got off to a good start, but I thought once we got seven runs, it could be right or it could be wrong, but we just didn't keep the baseball in front of us defensively. We've done such a good job of that all year and I thought that opened the gates just a little bit and created a little more of a challenge throughout the ballgame."
Keegan Thompson opened the game with 2.2 scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the third. That start increased his scoreless streak to 23.2 passing former Tiger Joe Beckwith (21.0, 1976) for the top start to a season.
The junior from Cullman allowed four runs on 10 hits in 7.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts.
Auburn (10-5) got off to an early start scoring a run in the first on a RBI single by Daniel Robert. The Tigers added six in the second inning with RBI's from Blake Logan, Josh Anthony, Dylan Ingram, Conor Davis and a 2-run triple by Robert for a 7-0 lead.
Robert was 2-for-5 with three RBI and has reached base in 30 straight games dating back to last season. Bowen McGuffin had a career-high three hits. Blake Logan hit his first home run of the season in the eighth.
The Blue Hose got two in the third and single runs in both the fourth and eighth innings, but the big blow was the seven-run ninth. Presbyterian (9-7) sent 11 men to the plate in the inning and scored seven times on eight hits off four Auburn relievers.
Calvin Coker took the loss for the Tigers with five earned in one inning.
Presbyterian's Brett Auckland was 4-for-5 with three RBI. AJ Priaulx had three hits and three RBI.
Robert Moss improved to 1-0. He allowed a run in one inning of relief. Ryan Hedrick got the final three outs for his second save. Presbyterian starter Brian Kehner allowed seven runs in the first two innings, but settled in to complete seven innings total.
Auburn and Presbyterian continue the series Saturday at 12 pm.