AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn dropped the rubber game to No. 4 Tennessee 19-5 in seven innings Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers (18-13, 2-10 SEC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Volunteers (26-6, 7-5 SEC) scored in each of their next six at-bats to secure the series.
"That's what's disappointing, when you had a chance. Winning Wednesday and Friday, you want this team to make a move and you had a chance to win the series these last two days," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Their strength absolutely outshined our strength. I give Tennessee a ton of credit. We have a lot of work to do."
Will Cannon retired Tennessee in order on eight pitches in the top of the first, and the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a three-run homer from Cooper McMurray in the home half. After back-to-back singles from Cooper Weiss and Ike Irish to start the inning, McMurray swung at a 3-0 fastball and lined it off the hitting facility in right field for his team-best 12th homer of the year.
However, Tennessee scored 13 unanswered runs from the second through fourth innings. Cal Stark hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run second and three-run homer in a four-run third before Blake Burke hit a two-run single in the fourth.
Auburn got back on the scoreboard on a RBI double from Carter Wright in the bottom of the fourth, but Tennessee got the run back and then some with a solo homer and two-run double in the fifth, making it a 16-4 game.
The two teams traded solo homers in the sixth with Gavin Miller leading off the home half of the inning with his third of the season, and Tennessee capped off the scoring in the contest with a solo homer and RBI double in the seventh.
"With six weeks to go we have a lot of baseball left," Thompson added.
Auburn continues its eight-game homestand with a midweek matchup vs. Alabama State () Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park.
Auburn falls in rubber game vs. No. 4 Tennessee
