FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 18 Auburn fell behind early and couldn't make up the difference in a 9-3 loss at No. 3 Arkansas Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
"The difference in the two games here is we just have not played at gametime," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Arkansas is playing at gametime. At gametime, we are not playing defense, pitching, or getting the barrel in position. That's the difference in the ballgame."
Arkansas (17-2, 2-0 SEC) started the first inning with a leadoff error followed by a walk and one-out hit batter, and all three runs eventually came in to score on a two-out, bases-clearing double later in the frame.
Auburn (13-5-1, 0-2 SEC) responded and got one of the three runs back after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter to start the second. The run came in to score on a RBI fielder's choice from Chris Stanfield, but a couple of tough-luck at-bats from Mike Bello and Brody Moss resulted in a line drive that was knocked down at third base and a flyout to deep right center to strand a pair.
The Razorbacks added to their lead with one-out single and two-run homer to make it a 5-1 game through two innings.
Bryson Ware's solo homer on the first pitch of the fourth inning cut into Arkansas' lead, but the Razorbacks got the run back and then some with four runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 9-2. The runs came on four singles, three of which stayed in the vicinity of the infield, and two walks.
Ware homered for the second straight at-bat to cut the deficit to 9-3 in the top of the sixth, marking his team-best ninth homer of the season and first multi-homer game of his career.
The Tigers would get a two-out double from Kason Howell in the top of the seventh and put two runners on in the ninth on a error and hit batter, but the three baserunners after Ware's sixth inning homer were all the team could manage.
Right hander Christian Herberholz pitched a pair of clean innings with three strikeouts to end the day on the bump for the Tigers. Zach Crotchfelt (0-1, 4.87) made his third straight start and allowed six runs, but just three earned, and matched a season high with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Tanner Bauman pitched 2.0 innings in the middle of the contest.
Ware collected the aforementioned two homers and scored all three of Auburn's runs. Howell matched Ware with two hits in the game, including his 58th career double.
"What we still have is another ballgame in this series," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Those were some uncharacteristic things for us. We've done a good job. It just seems like we haven't played the same these first two days."
The series finale between Auburn and Arkansas is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
Execution ‘at gametime’ the difference in No. 18 Auburn’s loss at No. 3 Arkansas
