Rally comes up short

AUBURN | The clutch hits eluded Auburn for much of Tuesday night.

The Tigers rallied for three runs in the ninth inning but came up short in a 6-5 loss at Kennesaw State.

Auburn stranded 15 baserunners, leaving the bases loaded in the first, sixth and eighth innings. Auburn’s 5-9 hitters were a combined 1-for-18 at the plate before the ninth.

But it was the bottom of the order that helped load the bases with no outs in the ninth and then Cody Nulph drove in a run with a single before Auburn added a second on a double play groundout by Damon Haecker.

Anfernee Grier cut the deficit to one run with a single to center to score Kyler Deese and then stole second to give Jordan Ebert a chance with a runner in scoring position.

Ebert, who had three hits on the night, flied out to right field to end the game.

“We’ve just got to keep battling,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “Jordan Ebert was the one going up and down the dugout there in the ninth inning trying to keep everybody engaged. It’s really nice to see that from a player. He reached base five times tonight and I really wanted to see him get a hit right there at the end.”

Grier paced Auburn at the plate going 5 of 6. Ebert was 3 of 4 with one RBI.

“Anfernee had another great night. He’s just so consistent with how professional he plays and how much he competes,” Thompson said.

Daniel Sprinkle (1-1) took the loss allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in 1.2 innings. Gordon Cardenas gave up two more runs in 1.2 innings.

Izaac Yarbrough gave Auburn 3.2 strong innings out of the bullpen holding KSU to no runs on two hits with five strikeouts.

“Yarbrough really gave us a chance to get back in it,” Thompson said.

Injured Auburn starters Joshua Palacios and Daniel Robert missed their third-straight games, all losses.

KSU used seven pitchers with starter Tony Dibrell (1-3) earning the win allowing one unearned run on six hits in 5.0 innings. Corey Greeson, Austin Upshaw and Jeremy Howell had two hits apiece for KSU. Upshaw and Howell added two RBI apiece.

Auburn (15-18, 3-9 SEC) returns to conference play this weekend as Tennessee visits for a three-game series beginning Thursday night.