ROUND ROCK, TX. – No. 17 Auburn scored four runs in its last two at-bats and had the bases loaded in the ninth but ultimately fell to Baylor, 12-6, in game two of the Round Rock Classic at Dell Diamond Saturday.
Baylor (2-4) got on the scoreboard on a solo homer coming on the second pitch of the game and never relinquished its lead to the Tigers (5-2).
"We just got off to such a tough start," head coach Butch Thompson. "We hung in there against Oklahoma. Today, we just gave the plate away from Jump Street. From the first batter of the day, we gave the plate away."
Baylor leadoff hitter Jared McKenzie hit his second home run in as many at-bats to extend the lead to 3-0 in the third. The Bears tacked on two more in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth without recording an extra-base hit during the stretch of innings.
Peyton Glavine pitched a career high 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. The southpaw allowed one hit with two strikeouts and faced the minimum in his outing.
"He was the first one who controlled the plate today," Thompson said of Glavine. "He got a game ball because he came in and really took the sting out of their swing, being ready to pitch."
Auburn starter Richard Fitts (0-1, 6.75) suffered the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
His counterpart, Tyler Thomas (1-0, 2.45), earned the win after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
The Tigers scored on a RBI single from Kason Howell in the fourth and added another on Steven Williams' RBI double in the fifth. Tyler Miller hit his second home run of the season and the week to start the eighth.
Auburn sent nine batters to the plate and scored three runs in the ninth on a two-RBI triple from Miller and RBI single from Kason Howell. However, the Tigers left the bases loaded to end the game.
Miller and Howell combined to go 5-for-8 with three runs and five RBI in the contest.
Auburn caps off its appearance in the Round Rock Classic against Texas A&M (3-3) tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Dell Diamond.
No. 17 Auburn rallies late, comes up short vs. Baylor
