AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) --The Tigers traveled to Arkansas over the weekend to face one of the best teams in the nation and got swept, losing 7-2, 9-3, and 5-0.
In game one, Auburn came out swinging, and in the third inning, Kason Howell connected for a solo home run. The Tigers would add another run in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
Tommy Vail (2-1, 2.55) started the game on the mound for the Tigers and looked good through his first three innings. Vail faced just one batter over the minimum in the first three frames.
The start fell off the tracks in the bottom of the fourth inning, after Vail walked back-to-back batters before giving up a three-run blast to Brady Slavens. The Razorbacks continued to dominate at the plate and scored seven unanswered runs.
Auburn did have its opportunities to close the gap but was unable to get the big hit with runners in scoring position, noting just one hit in the final five innings.
In game two, Arkansas dominated Auburn from the first inning on. The Razorbacks scored five runs in the first two innings on multiple defensive miscues by the Tigers.
“Arkansas is playing at game time,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “At game time, we are not playing defense, pitching, or getting the barrel in position. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”
Bryson Ware accounted for all of Auburn’s runs on Saturday. Ware had a pair of home runs in his first two at-bats.
Freshman Zach Crotchfelt (0-1, 4.87) made his third straight start and allowed six runs, only three of which were earned. Crotchfelt matched his season high with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
In Sunday’s series finale, Arkansas once again dominated Auburn from the first pitch to the last. Arkansas pitching allowed just three hits, two walks, and struck out seven.
Konner Copeland (1-1, 7.63) went 2.2 innings for the Tigers, allowing three runs on three hits. Chase Allsup came on in relief for Copeland, and the struggle continued. Arkansas scored all five of its runs in the first four innings, before Will Cannon and Chase Isbell quieted Razorback bats for Auburn.
Auburn baseball is back on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the capital city of Alabama. They will take on the South Alabama Jaguars at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
The Tigers return to Plainsman Park from Thursday to Saturday, looking for their first SEC win of the season. They will take on the Georgia Bulldogs, who just got swept by the South Carolina Gamecocks.
