AUBURN, Ala. – No. 17 Auburn matched a season high in hits in an offensive series finale that ultimately ended in a 12-12 tie to USC Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
The tie was a result of a travel curfew for the visiting Trojans, with both teams agreeing pregame that no inning would start after 3:30 p.m. CT.
"I'm not used to it ending that way. I want to win or lose, so that was a little awkward," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We haven't been in that situation very much, so I don't know if I have words. I know you're not allowed to be sad until the season is over.
"A lot of strengths in our ball club to not lose a game this weekend in a great series, but something is definitely unsettling," Thompson added.
Eight Auburn players recorded a hit in the game, including four players with multiple hits led by a season high four hits from Ike Irish and three from Cole Foster. Justin Kirby homered twice and drove in a career high seven runs on his three-run homer and grand slam.
"I feel good. I've obviously had some success with the long ball, but I'm seeing the ball really well," Kirby said. "I thought I've put together a lot of competitive at bats. Every game I go into I really just try to find a way to help a team win as much as I can. I try to produce as much as I can and be of use."
Tied at 12 going into the ninth inning, USC (3-3-1) scored what appeared to be the go-ahead run on a base hit to left. However, the runner from second missed home plate and was called out on a force play at the plate after he had already celebrated into he dugout.
After Parker Carlson entered the game in relief and recorded the final out of the top of the ninth, the Tigers (5-1-1) threatened with the bases loaded and one out in the home half, but USC was able to escape the inning with a pair of flyouts to end the game.
"We're absolutely trying to get a little better and take the positive out of this, but fully realizing that it must improve," Thompson said. "And that's OK. That's not a bad thing. Hopefully we'll just keep driving to make sure we adjust and go forward."
After USC started the game with a pair of two-run homers in the top of the first, Auburn responded by scoring three runs in the home half. The inning was extended on a throwing error, and Irish made the Trojans pay with a RBI triple down to put Auburn on the board. Stretching the sure double into a triple, Irish ultimately scored on the play on a throwing error on the relay to third. The next pitch, Bryson Ware hit his third homer of the week to cut the deficit to one.
The Tigers kept the offense going with four runs in the second. Foster tied the score with a RBI single through the right side, and Kirby hit his first of two homers, a three-run shot to left, to give Auburn a 7-4 lead.
An inning later, Foster stepped to the plate again and put a ball in play that resulted in the team's eighth run. The USC second baseman made a nice play on the grounder up the middle, but his flip to second got away and allowed Cooper McMurray to score.
USC scored four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 8-8, but Auburn responded an inning later when Kirby's grand slam extended the lead back to four. The homer was Kirby's second of the game and team best fifth of the season. All five of Kirby's hits thus far have been home runs.
The Trojans chipped away with a run on wild pitch in the top of the sixth and tied the game for third time with three runs in the seventh. USC's last eight runs in the game came with two outs.
Auburn used six pitchers in the game, highlighted by a pair of scoreless innings from Konner Copeland, who made his second appearance of the week after starting against North Alabama Tuesday.
The Tigers continue non-conference play with a midweek matchup against Florida A&M before a three-game series against Lipscomb this weekend.
Wild series finale between No. 17 Auburn and USC ends in 12-12 tie
