BATON ROUGE, La. -- Auburn (25-19, 8-13 SEC) had a rough weekend in Baton Rouge, La., against No. 6 LSU (33-12, 14-7 SEC) last weekend. LSU swept the series 7-3, 7-6, 7-6.
In Friday's game, LSU's Anthony Ranaudo walked Auburn's first hitter, but owned the night, striking out 17 batters, a career high.
Auburn did manage to hit three home runs, but all three were solo homers.
Auburn rarely had more than one runner on base in an inning.
LSU started the night off with a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Casey McElroy answered in the second with a solo homer.
The homer was McElroy's seventh of the season and brought Auburn's home run streak to six games.
Brian Fletcher's 13th homer of the season put Auburn ahead 2-1 in the fourth.
LSU answered in the fourth scoring two runs to reclaim the lead and bring the game to 3-2.
Hunter Morris hit his 11th homer of the season to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, but LSU would not give up any runs past the sixth.
Saturday was a closer call, but Auburn fell short by just one run, 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth.
Dan Gamache and Ben Jones put the first two runs on the board for Auburn with second-inning home runs.
"It's always good to score first," Jones said. "You've got to build the momentum and always have that on your side."
LSU responded with a single run in the bottom of the second, making the score 3-1 entering the third. Auburn's Wes Gilmer brought in a run in the fourth to regain its three-run lead, but LSU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, leaving the scoreboard at 4-3 entering the sixth.
Auburn pitcher Grant Dayton gave up three home runs throughout the day.
"We played hard, but for some reason we didn't get things done today," Dayton said. "We missed opportunities in the field, at bat and on the mound."
LSU took its first lead in the seventh with back-to-back home runs, but Auburn brought in two runs in the eighth to reclaim the lead 6-5.
LSU tied it up with three straight singles, scoring one.
The teams entered the ninth tied 6-6, but Auburn gave up one more run to fall 7-6.
"We did a good job competing today," said Auburn head coach John Pawlowski. "We came out ready to play, but we didn't take advantage of every opportunity. We didn't execute, and the difference is execution."
Auburn fell short again in Sunday's game at Alex Box Stadium, 7-6. Casey McElroy was five for five at the plate, and Brian Fletcher had three RBIs.
"You always want the best for your ball club," Pawlowski said. "You've got to play tough, and the guys played hard against LSU."
LSU claimed a 2-0 lead in the second during the series finale Sunday.
But Auburn's first baseman Hunter Morris answered with a two-run homer in the third to tie it up.
Auburn went up 4-2 in the fifth after Fletcher got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Gilmer then walked, but LSU jumped ahead with a three-run home run by Tyler Hanover and Mahtook scored on a double to put LSU ahead by two.
LSU added a run in the sixth, but Auburn answered with two runs in the eighth, bringing the score to 6-5, Auburn. LSU brought in two more runs, making the score 7-6.
LSU pitcher Matty Ott maintained the score and closed the game with a victory and sweep for LSU.
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