May 13, 2017
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Baton Rouge, La. - The No. 14 Auburn baseball dropped its series finale against No. 10 LSU, 9-1, Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers' day was highlighted by senior Sam Gillikin's first home run of the season and Dylan Ingram who extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games.
LSU starter Eric Walker was solid on the mound, holding Auburn to one hit over eight innings. Walker improved to 6-1 on the season.
"(Eric) Walker did a great job," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "He threw strike one time and time again. He was in the bottom of the strike zone most of the day. When we got a pitch to hit, we were just missing it. He took the sting out of our swing and it was very routine today."
Gillikin broke up Walker's no-hit bid with two outs in the eighth when he drove a 1-0 pitch opposite field over the left field wall. Ingram extended his hitting streak with a single to center in the ninth off reliever Caleb Gilbert.
Auburn starter (6-2) Casey Mize took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in four innings of work.
"You can see that Keegan (Thompson) and Casey are not at 100 percent," Thompson said. "When they're not at 100 percent it's tough for us. Them being at 100 percent is probably the the reason we've won six SEC weekends and will go for our seventh next weekend."
LSU got to Mize in the second inning as three consecutive hits led to three runs in the frame. Michael Papierski hit his second consecutive two-run homer in as many days in the fourth to give the Bayou Bengals a 5-0 advantage.
Zach Watson led LSU with three hits while Josh Smith and Beau Jordan added two apiece.
LSU improved to 35-17 and 18-9 in the SEC, while the Auburn dropped to 32-21 and 14-13.
"We have to have better at bats. The offense has slowed down some since the two weekends at Arkansas and Mississippi State," Thompson said. "All around we've got to be a little better. This team will have to step up with some urgency at home next week with Ole Miss."
Auburn will host Ole Miss in its regular season SEC series finale at Plainsman Park. Thursday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.