May 12, 2017
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Baton Rouge, La. - Auburn junior Jonah Todd tied a career high with four hits, scored a run and drove in one, in the Tigers' 5-3 loss at No. 10 LSU Saturday in Alex Box Stadium. Auburn overcame a three-run deficit and tied the game in the seventh inning, but LSU's Michael Papierski's two-run homer in the bottom of the frame was the difference.
"They hit two big home runs in the ball game," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "I thought everyone competed well. Keegan (Thompson) was very efficient and outside of the two swings, I thought he was as efficient as he has been. He's a great competitor. They just had one more big hit tonight."
Auburn scored a pair of two-out runs in the seventh to tie the game compliments of a three-base error and an RBI single from Todd scoring Will Holland. Jay Estes started the rally with a single before scoring from first on LSU third basemen Josh Smith's throwing error on Holland's ground ball. Holland advanced to third base after Smith's wild throw rolled in foul territory to the LSU bullpen.
In the LSU half of the seventh, Smith walked and scored two batter later when Papierski hit his fifth home run of the season on a 1-0 pitch from Auburn starter Keegan Thompson.
"I told our team, 'we either win, or we learn'," Thompson said. "We'll continue to try to learn something and try to come back out here tomorrow and win."
The Tigers got on the board in the sixth inning on Dylan Ingram's sacrifice fly scoring Todd who led off the inning with an infield single. Ingram extended his career-best hitting streak to eight games with a single in the second inning. Jay Estes added a pair of hits for the Tigers.
LSU scored a run in third inning and extended the lead to 3-0 on Zach Watson's two-out, two-run shot to left field in the fifth inning.
LSU's bottom third of the order of was responsible for a majority of the damage, as its 7-9 order hitters were a combined 5-for-8 with a pair of two-run homers. The 1-6 hitters were just 2-for-21 at the plate.
Thompson (5-4) took the loss for Auburn. He allowed five runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
LSU reliever Zack Hess improved to 6-1 after allowing an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings. Starter Jared Poche' went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one unearned, on six hits for the Bayou Bengals.
LSU improved to 34-17 and 17-9 in the SEC, while the Auburn dropped to 32-20 and 14-12.
First pitch of the series finale at Alex Box Stadium is noon CT on Saturday. The game will air on the SEC Network.