Tigers split doubleheader
AUBURN | No. 15 Auburn will have to settle for the second-best start in school history.
The Tigers beat Northeastern 14-8 in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader before falling 2-1 in the nightcap behind a strong pitching performance by Huskies starter Sean Mellen.
“I think we’ve probably played worse in a game this season and won. And the game we wind up losing, we competed hard. We just ran into a buzzsaw,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said.
Auburn falls to 15-1, coming up two games short of 1997’s 17-0 start. The Tigers take the series after winning 6-0 Friday night.
“We all knew it was going to happen at some point,” said Steven Williams of Auburn’s first loss. “I’m just really eager to see how we’re going to respond to it. I hope we can keep doing what we’re doing and hopefully we’ll be fine.
Mellen (4-0) held Auburn without a hit for 7.2 innings before Edouard Julien drove a two-out, two-strike double into the left field corner to score Brett Wright, who walked and stole second base.
Will Holland followed with a single in the hole between third and shortstop, which looked to be headed into left field before NU shortstop Max Burt made a diving stop and threw Wright out at home.
NU reliever Andrew Misiaszek earned the save allowing a hit by Steven Williams in the ninth. Mellen struck out eight, walked three and allowed two hits in 8.0 innings.
“Sean Mellen was special, electric,” Thompson said. “Probably the worst game we evaluated pitches and swung at some balls up but I think it had something to do with the pitches he was making.
“Man, they had a special pitcher tonight, they made special plays. We wind up almost tying it on a play at the plate and we get the runner in scoring position there to tie it in the ninth inning. So I thought our resiliency, one of our identity pieces showed up again. Our guys competed.”
Cody Greenhill was a standout for Auburn holding NU to a hit in 42 innings out of the bullpen. He struck out four and issued on walk, retiring 13 of the last 14 batters of the game.
Auburn starter Tanner Burns (2-1) took the loss allowing two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out five and walked four on 84 pitches.
“I thought Tanner Burns competed. I thought he left some pitches up and just had to grind the whole time but he gave us a chance,” Thompson said. “Cody Greenhill was good again.”
Auburn plated 14 runs on 14 hits in game one including six home runs, the most in a single game since hitting seven against Mississippi State in 2010. Brendan Venter got it started with a solo home run in the first inning. Wright followed with a two-run home run in the first and was one of three players to hit a solo shot in the sixth joining Josh Anthony and Julien.
“The ball really travelled well, the guys swung, swung, swung and the I thought we had a great approach,” Thompson said.
Calvin Coker (3-0) pitched 4.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win. He allowed three hits, struck out two and issued one walk.
Starter Davis Daniel lasted 3.1 innings allowing a run on seven hits and for walks. He struck out four on 73 pitches. Northeastern tacked on seven runs in the ninth before Calvin Coker came on to record the final two outs.
Auburn returns to action Tuesday against Georgia Tech at Plainsman Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on SECN+ and WatchESPN.