AUBURN, Ala. – No. 10 Auburn fell behind early and never recovered in a 15-4 run-rule loss to No. 21 Jacksonville State Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
The Gamecocks scored in six of their eight innings, totaling 15 runs on 17 hits, both season highs allowed by the Tigers.
“They have to find a way to flush it,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “Just the inconsistencies. We’ve been so good on the mound but only struck those guys out three times. To me, I’ve advertised all year the spirit. You have to have a club grow. (Jacksonville State) came out with a competitive spirit. We’re just seeing some inconsistencies there.”
Jacksonville State (28-6) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three straight bunts – two for a hit and one for a RBI sacrifice – and a two-run homer in the top of the first.
Auburn starter Christian Chatterton (2-2) responded to hold the Gamecocks off the scoreboard in the top of the second, one of two innings the visitors didn’t score with the other coming against Ryan Hetzler in the fourth.
A two-run homer after an error extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth, and Jacksonville State made it a 10-run game on a bases-clearing double in the sixth.
Auburn got on the scoreboard with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth. Bub Terrell, Eric Guevara, Ethin Bingman and Logan Gregorio turned in four straight singles to start the scoring. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Brandon and Mason McCraine added two runs, and a RBI double from Bristol Carter finished off the four-run frame.
The Gamecocks got all but one run back with three in the top of the seventh, two coming on a two-out error.
The first three Jacksonville State batters of the seventh reached and two came in to score to make it a 15-4 game.
Jacksonville State starting pitcher Ryan Geraghty (1-1) recorded all six of his outs with strikeouts and earned the win on the bullpen day.
Auburn’s offense totaled nine hits, including two apiece from Carter, Bingaman and Gregorio.
Auburn’s Southeastern Conference slate continues with a series against Kentucky (24-8, 6-6 SEC) Friday through Sunday at Plainsman Park.