May 18, 2018
Related Links
AUBURN, Ala. -- No. 22 Auburn took a two-run lead in the fifth inning but couldn't hold the advantage as the Tigers fell to LSU, 6-2, Friday night at Plainsman Park.
After jumping out to a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Auburn (36-19, 14-15 SEC) went into a one hour and one minute weather delay trailing 4-2, and LSU (33-22, 15-14 SEC) added to its advantage with a pair of two-out RBI singles coming out of the halt in play.
Both starting pitchers factored into the decision as Casey Mize (9-4, 2.94) was sharp in his first 4.0 innings of work but ultimately gave up four runs on seven hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. Opposite Mize, LSU freshman Ma'Khail Hilliard (9-4, 3.53) picked up the win in 7.1 innings of work.
"We played hard. It was just a ballgame of moments," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We played pretty clean baseball. We just didn't get to the pen soon enough. We get an opportunity to come out tomorrow and win a series."
In what was a pitchers' duel through the first four innings, Auburn struck first as the Tigers got to Hilliard in the home half of the fifth. Luke Jarvis hit a one-out double down the left-field line to put a pair in scoring position, and Josh Anthony drove them both in on a chopper over a drawn-in infield to plate a pair.
However, LSU answered right back in the top of the sixth inning as the visiting Tigers strung together five hits in a four-run frame off Mize, who had struck out nine batters in his first 4.0 innings.
After Mize issued a leadoff walk to start the seventh, Davis Daniel pitched an effective 2.1 innings and struck out five as he was up to 97 miles per hour on the radar gun. Daniel allowed just one hit and one walk before having to leave the game due to the extended weather delay.
Calvin Coker took the mound coming out of the delay, and the visiting Tigers were able to tack on a pair of runs against the senior right-hander.
A day after turning in a career-high four hits with three runs and two RBI, Will Holland went 3-for-4 and turned in his fourth double in the last three games. Holland has led off the last four games with an extra-base hit -- three doubles and a home run.
The rubber match between Auburn and LSU is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT. Auburn will send Andrew Mitchell to the mound (1-1, 3.86) to oppose LSU's AJ Labas (6-1, 2.98).