April 26, 2018
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 19 Auburn fell behind early and couldn't dig itself out of a hole as the Tigers fell, 3-1, to No. 1 Florida Thursday night at McKethan Stadium.
Auburn (30-13, 9-10 SEC) sent the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but junior closer Michael Byrne was able to finish things off for Florida (35-9, 15-4 SEC).
In one of the premier pitching matchups in college baseball this season, junior right-handers Casey Mize (8-2, 2.40) and Brady Singer (9-1, 2.62) each went 7.0 innings in the duel.
Mize allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. It was the fourth time this season and ninth time in his career the Auburn ace struck out 10 or more batters. He passed former Tigers Chris Bootcheck and Gregg Olson on the career strikeout list and finish the game tied with Arnold Hughey for fifth in program history with 272.
"That first inning, give all the credit to India," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We were chasing (the lead) the whole ballgame, but man Casey settled in and allowed just four hits. The big hit by India was the difference in the ballgame, but Casey competed so hard -- 10 strikeouts and just one walk. We have to have tougher at-bats in moments."
Florida jumped out to an early lead after Jonathan India hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning.
The Tigers manufactured a run and cut the Gators' lead in half in the top of the fourth. Edouard Julien sent a leadoff single into right-center before Brendan Venter was hit by a pitch for the 10th time this season. Both runners advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt from Luke Jarvis, and Jay Estes drove in Julien on a groundout to short.
The Gators got the run right back, though, as India was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the frame and later came around to score on a two-out single through left side.
The Tigers put the leadoff man aboard in three innings but Julien's aforementioned leadoff single in the fourth was the only run that came across.
Elliott Anderson and Calvin Coker combined to strand the bases loaded and work a scoreless eighth inning to keep the Tigers in it.
After Estes kept Auburn alive in its last at-bat with a two-out single and advanced to second on defensive indifference, pinch hitter Dylan Ingram represented the game's tying run. However, Ingram was retired by Byrne to end the game.
Estes accounted for two of Auburn's five hits, while Julien drew a pair of walks and reached three times in the game.
The Tigers and Gators will be right back in action for game two tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Freshman Tanner Burns (3-4, 2.29) will make the start for the Tigers opposite Florida's Jackson Kowar (7-1, 2.40).