AUBURN | It was Corey Greeson night at Plainsman Park.

The Kennesaw State junior drove in six runs on four hits including a two-run home run in the sixth inning to lead the Owls to a 7-3 win over Auburn Wednesday.

Auburn falls to 22-27 overall while Kennesaw State improves to 24-24.

“I thought the focus was not there,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “I thought we were the puppet and Kennesaw State was the puppeteer.

“We gave up five runs tonight with two outs and nobody on. They swung the bats aggressively and had 14 hits.”

The news wasn’t all bad for Auburn. Joshua Palacios returned to action for the first time since April 7 with a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning. Palacios, who missed 18 straight games with a wrist injury, struck out looking on four pitches but is poised to return for the final seven games of the regular season.

Palacios leads Auburn with a .408 average and four triples. He also has nine doubles, five home runs and 12 stolen bases.

“Getting back to the point of getting back in the ballgame, we thought he was ready for that and we could give him the at-bat,” Thompson said. “It’s good to have him back in there. I think our fans acknowledged him being out and I’m sure he appreciates that.”

Auburn managed just four hits on the night and left nine runners on base including two in the third, the bases loaded in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the ninth. AU also got a runner on third with one out in the seventh and failed to score.

The Tigers scored their three runs in the third when Melvin Gray was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Jordan Ebert followed with a two-RBI single.

Auburn starter Andrew Mitchell (4-4) took the loss allowing five runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings. Marc Frazier held the Owls to a hit in 2.0 innings, Daniel Sprinkle allowed two runs in 1.0 inning and Izaac Yarbrough didn’t allow a hit over the final 3.0 innings.

Jackson Burgreen, who replaced Palacios in left field during his absence, extended his streak of reaching base to 19 games with a walk in the sixth.

Auburn hosts No. 3 Mississippi State for a three-game series this weekend starting at 6 p.m. CT Friday on SECN+ and WatchESPN.