Takeaways: Auburn drops midweek matchup against Troy
Auburn baseball lost to Troy, 9-8, on Tuesday night in Plainsman Park. Here's what you need to know about the contest:
Bobby Peirce had himself a NIGHT
The senior outfielder played one of the best games you can imagine, going 4-5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, as well as chipping in TWO outfield assists to keep runs off the board and allow Auburn's offense to get to work.
Owing to his multiple leg injuries and lack of playing time earlier in his career, not many folks in the "prospect apparatus" have Peirce on draft boards as this summer's MLB Draft approaches, but the senior has a very good opportunity to get into MLB on the strength of his defense, speed, and power potential.
Tigers didn't get enough from the bottom of the order
Auburn scored six runs in the bottom of the 1st inning off of five hits, including a double by #6 hitter Kason Howell, to take an early lead in this one.
Nobody in the bottom of the lineup got on base again in the game.
Batters six through nine - CF Kason Howell, RF Justin Kirby, 2B Caden Green, and C Nate LaRue - combined to go 1-11 with three strikeouts. Auburn sent pinch-hitters to the plate late for Green and LaRue, but couldn't push across one final run.
Murphy and Nelson wore it tonight
The true freshman Murphy, making his first career start, looked like he was going to rally from a 1st-inning run for Troy that - how else? - came from free baserunners (a walk and a HBP).
He did not.
Staked to a 6-1 lead, Murphy twice gave up towering two-run homeruns to right field in the 2nd inning to let Troy right back into this one.
For the game, Murphy officially pitched two innings with five hits, five runs, two walks and two strikeouts on 57 pitches (35 strikes).
Fellow freshman Drew Nelson, brought on in the 6th for Parker Carlson with two runners on and one out, allowed three runs to score on a bases-loaded balk and a 2-RBI single to right field to give Troy their final lead of the game at 8-6.
The non-freshman pitchers did well
Parker Carlson and Chase Isbell combined to cover 6.1 innings in this game, with three total hits and two runs being scored (both allowed by Nelson on inherited runners in the 6th).
Carlson pitched a career-high 59 pitches to get through 3.1 innings with one hit, two runs (both earned) with three walks and three strikeouts, while Isbell finished the last three innings of the game with two hits and two walks to three strikeouts. Isbell threw 54 pitches, something that would have you concerned about his availability for Friday's series opener against South Carolina, but "the goal is to win every game", said head coach Butch Thompson, and you worry about Friday when you get to Friday.
So, what does this mean for Auburn's postseason hopes?
I'm glad you asked.
Popular predictions had Auburn as one of the first teams OUT of the Field of 64, based on their current 23-17-1 record (7-11 in conference) and the presumptive 14 conference wins required to qualify for postseason play.
This didn't help.
Yes, Troy has a good RPI (29th entering tonight), but this was a home loss, which is weighted heavier in the formula.
Thanks to "only" a 2-1 series win against Mississippi State, Auburn was already needing to pick up a win against South Carolina this weekend on the road or to steal a victory against #1 LSU at home on graduation weekend, as well as sweeping both Ole Miss and Missouri to get to 14 wins.
If there was a midweek to lose, it's this one, but Auburn still needs to win at least one this weekend against South Carolina (#1 in RPI) to get the additional "road win" boost to offset tonight's loss.
What's next?
Auburn's back in action for a three game set at #6 South Carolina this weekend. Game times are 6PM (Friday), 3PM (Saturday), and 11AM (Sunday), and all three games are available for streaming on SEC Network+. Sunday's game will also be broadcast on SEC Network. The radio broadcast, with Andy Burcham and Brad Law, is available locally on 93.9 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com, or in the Auburn Athletics app.