AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn dropped its series opener vs. Texas A&M 9-5 Friday night in front of the seventh sellout crowd of the season at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers (18-11-1, 3-7 SEC) scored five runs in the third inning to take a three-run lead, but the Aggies (19-11, 4-6 SEC) scored seven unanswered runs to secure the win.
"We didn't score the last six innings," head coach Butch Thompson said. "It was two-out hitting in the third. Pierce, Irish, Ware, McMurray, and Kason got to start it with a double on a ground ball down the line. We got our five runs but really never challenged to score after that. That was the difference offensively. Texas A&M challenged to score every inning."
After its five runs on five hits in the third, Auburn managed just three hits the rest of the game. A four-run seventh inning capped off by a three-run homer from third baseman Trevor Werner was the difference for the Aggies.
Auburn starting pitcher Will Cannon retired Texas A&M in order in the first, but the Aggies crossed the plate in the top of the second to start the scoring. A popup in the dusk sky got lost on the infield and dropped for a double before a single to right scored the run just ahead of the tag at the plate. Cannon did a good job to minimize the damage with a strikeout and flyout to strand runners at the corners.
The Aggies tacked one on with a RBI double in the top of the third, but Cannon again minimized the damage with back-to-back flyouts to strand two more in the frame.
Kason Howell started the bottom of the third with his 61st career double, and Auburn ultimately scored five runs with two outs in the frame. Bobby Peirce, Ike Irish and Bryson Ware hit three straight RBI singles to give Auburn the lead, and Cooper McMurray hit a two-RBI double to right to extend the advantage.
Texas A&M got a run back on a leadoff homer in the fourth, and another leadoff homer in the sixth brought the Aggies to within a run at 5-4. The visitors then tied the game on a wild pitch in the seventh and reclaimed the lead with a three-run homer later in the inning.
After Tanner Bauman (2-1) held the Aggies scoreless in the eighth, a popup dropped between second and right field for a one-out double in the ninth, and the final run scored on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Irish led the way with two hits from the plate, marking his team-best 18th multi-hit game of the season. Ware extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
First pitch in game two of the series has been moved from Friday at 6 p.m. CT to 1 p.m. The status of the series final will be determined Friday morning.
If forecasts for Saturday do not show an opportunity to complete game three, a doubleheader will be played Friday with game two beginning approximately 45 minutes after the completion of game one.
Should a doubleheader be played on Friday, tickets for both games two and three of the series will provide admission to Plainsman Park and the park will not be cleared between games. Additional ticket details will be provided if a doubleheader is played.
Tigers fall in opener vs. Texas A&M, Friday’s game time altered
