March 18, 2018
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AUBURN, Ala. -- Steven Williams sent a ball over the wall in right-center field for the second straight day, but No. 13 Auburn fell to No. 6 Texas A&M, 5-1, at Plainsman Park Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers move to 19-2 overall on the season and 2-1 in conference play. The series win marks Auburn's 16th since the start of last season, including winning eight of 11 series in league play.
"I thought our guys battled their hearts out," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Tanner Burns had a little bit of adversity but he hung in there. The last two outings he's just been fighting for us. If he can fight like he did today and keep learning every time he takes the mound. He's going to win a ton of games for us."
Burns (2-2, 2.05) suffered the loss after throwing 5.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Opposite the Auburn freshman, Texas A&M starter Mitchell Kilkenny (5-0, 1.32) earned the win while throwing 6.1 innings allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Texas native Calvin Coker pitched 4.0 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Coker's five punchouts matched a season high for Auburn relievers.
Auburn threatened in the seventh after Jay Estes took a first-pitch ball to the foot and Edouard Julien fought for an eight-pitch walk to give the Tigers two runners on with one out. Texas A&M went to the bullpen for right-hander Nolan Hoffman, who escaped the jam with the tying run in scoring position and held the Auburn offense at bay for the final 2.2 innings.
Josh Anthony collected his sixth multi-hit game of the season and 24th of his career with a pair of singles. Williams picked up his 28th RBI of the season and is one away from matching Connor Davis' freshman total from a year ago. Will Holland singled through the right side in the sixth and has now reached base in all but one game this season.
Auburn hits the road for four games next week, starting with a midweek contest at Georgia Tech (11-8, 2-4 ACC) Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.