AUBURN, Ala. – No. 22 Auburn dropped the first of a three-game series against No. 18 Boston College, 8-2, Friday at Plainsman Park.
Boston College (7-1) got on the scoreboard on a two-run homer in the second, and the Tigers (6-3) couldn't make up the difference.
"This is what I expected from Boston College, but not what I expected from us," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We hit it to their outfield in some of our good at-bats, and they hit it over our outfield in their good at-bats."
Both starting pitchers factored into the decision as Auburn's Richard Fitts suffered the loss while Boston College's Mason Pelio earned the win.
Eagles center fielder Sal Frelick hit a solo home run in the third and, after Auburn starter Richard Fitts had retired six in a row, came back around in the fifth to hit his second solo homer. Back-to-back two-out doubles made it 5-0 through five.
Auburn put its leadoff runner aboard in the second through fifth innings but failed to move the runner past second base.
The Eagles continued to add to the advantage on Luke Gold's second homer of the night in the sixth and made it 8-0 on a pair of RBI groundouts in the seventh.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly from Bryson Ware and RBI single from Kason Howell in the eighth.
Seb Thomas pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and struck out a career high four batters in relief.
Rankin Woley and Tyler Miller collected two hits apiece. Miller continued his streak of consecutive at-bats with a hit to eight with a single up the middle in the first.
The two teams turn around to play game two of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
No. 22 Auburn falls to No. 18 Boston College in opener
