Auburn commits five errors in 13-4 loss
Auburn played poorly in all facets of an 13-4 loss to Tennessee Thursday.
AUBURN | Thursday’s series opener against Tennessee is one Auburn would soon like to forget. The Volunteers jumped on top early and cruised to a 13-4 win at Plainsman Park as the Tigers continued their defensive struggles.
Auburn allowed five unearned runs on five errors, had six wild pitches, one passed ball, gave up five stolen bases and had two runners picked off base.
“I just didn’t think we were ready to play from the start,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “I think our guys have competed and battled all year. I didn’t see that. I didn’t have our guys ready to play tonight.
“I saw a lot of compounding of stuff. I thought today was more mental. We know we need to win and I thought we pressed a little bit early.”
Auburn falls to 15-19 overall and 3-10 in the SEC while Tennessee improves to 20-14 and 4-9.
Ben Braymer’s first start in more than three weeks didn’t last long as Tennessee scored four runs in the first inning on three hits, one walk, one error, four stolen bases, two wild pitches and one passed ball.
Braymer (3-3) threw 40 pitches in the inning and was replaced by Cole Lipscomb to start the second. Lipscomb held the Vols at bay for most of the next six innings allowing three unearned runs in the fourth before the Vols struck for four in the eighth.
UT added two more in the ninth off Marc Frazier.
Auburn scored a run in the first on an RBI double by Melvin Gray and three more in the eighth as Kyler Deese drove home one on a groundout and Damon Haecker two more on a double.
Tennessee starter Aaron Soto (4-1) held Auburn to a run on six hits in 6.1 innings to earn the win. Jordan Rodgers and Derek Lance had three hits apiece and Vincent Jackson drove in three for the Vols.
The series continues Friday at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Auburn senior right-hander Justin Camp (2-2, 3.91 ERA) will face Tennessee sophomore left-hander Zach Warren (4-3, 2.92).