Aggies rally to even series
Ahead 3-0 and Keegan Thompson coming to the mound, No. 7 Auburn was in a good place in the first inning. But it was all downhill from there.
Thompson lasted just 4.0 innings, the Tigers committed three errors, had just four hits after the first two innings, left 12 runners on base and had three runners thrown out as Texas A&M stormed back for a 6-3 win Saturday.
The Aggies evened the series after Auburn’s 2-1 win Friday. The rubber game will be Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
“I thought Texas A&M out-executed us today,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “I thought we competed hard. I thought we battled hard. (Mitchell) Kilkenny, a very good arm there at the end, his fastball really got on us a little bit. Just the miscues.
“I thought we had a chance to win this ballgame today. I thought we were in it a little more than maybe the final score shows. I told them we had to go back and get our minds ready and it starts now.”
Thompson (4-1), who was held out last weekend with shoulder tendonitis, allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits. He struck out six and issued one walk losing for the first time this season.
Ryan Watson allowed a run on three hits in 1.0 inning and Christian Camacho a run on a hit and a walk in 0.1 innings before Calvin Coker held Texas A&M hitless over the final 2.2 innings.
Blake Logan provided all of Auburn’s runs with a three-run home run in the first. He added a double in the fifth to finish 2-of-4. Luke Jarvis, Daniel Robert and Conor Davis had two hits apiece.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the second and fifth innings but failed to score. Auburn struck out 10 times against three Aggie pitchers.
Kaylor Chafin (3-1) earned the win holding Auburn two two hits in 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. Kilkenny picked up his third save of the season allowing two hits over the final 2.1 innings.
The loss drops Auburn to 24-9 overall and 8-3 in the SEC while Texas A&M improves to 21-11 and 4-7.
Sunday’s game at Blue Bell Park will be available on SECN+ and WatchESPN.