Takeaways from Auburn's series opening loss to Texas A&M
Auburn baseball dropped game one of the series versus the visiting Texas A&M Aggies, 8-5, in Plainsman Park on Thursday night. What can we learn from the loss?
Auburn pitching has to do more
If you dig into the stats, Auburn's pitchers gave up only eleven hits.
But it's WHEN they gave up those hits, and WHAT those hits were.
For the game, Auburn pitching allowed the leadoff runner to reach base in six of the nine innings, and that runner scored four times. Higher-leverage situations, like a runner on base and/or in scoring position, are inherently harder for a pitcher and take more out of a hurler.
Of those eleven hits, three were home runs and three were doubles. The third home run was a three-run absolute moonshot to dead center, capping off a four run seventh inning that gave Texas A&M a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
And not like Texas A&M needed the help, but Auburn gave Texas A&M nine free runners - five walks, a HBP, two dropped fly balls, and a dropped strike three.
Compounding issues, Auburn used both Tanner Bauman (4.1 innings, taking the loss) and Drew Nelson, prompting the question of who takes the "TBA" spot for game two.
(NOTE: Will Cannon only pitched three innings with five hits and two runs - he was removed for precautionary reasons with a blister on his throwing hand.)
The bats went (mostly) quiet
Auburn strung together a walk and five hits in the third inning, the last four all coming with two outs, to make their "big inning" and score five runs, taking the early lead.
Outside of the third inning, Auburn had three hits and three walks in the contest.
Kason Howell's leadoff double in the 3rd was Auburn's first hit and baserunner of the contest, and after the 3rd inning, Auburn got the leadoff runner on three times (4th via walk, 5th via walk, and 8th via single) and failed to bring them in every time.
Auburn hitters finished the game with a season-high 15 strikeouts, many of them coming on breaking pitches down and away after getting behind in the count -
"disadvantage counts", Butch calls them - and having to expand the zone to protect the plate.
Ike Irish led with two hits, but no one else collected more than one in the game.
What's the schedule for the rest of the weekend?
With rain in the forecast for Saturday, officials and the coaches met immediately after the game to discuss the scheduling for the series.
After an inordinately long time, the decision was announced to move Friday's game two up from 6PM to 1PM - a decision on game three will come first thing Friday morning.
Just flush this one, folks
Listen, this was the worst game we've seen from these Tigers all season. Let's move on from this one, and get back after it tomorrow.
What's next?
Auburn baseball is back at it for game two tomorrow at 1PM. As of now, the game is scheduled to be broadcast on SEC Network - as other games are impacted by weather, it's possible that changes. The radio call, with Brad Law and Andy Burcham, is available locally on 93.9FM, AuburnTigers.com, and the Auburn Athletics app.
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