A ninth-inning rally came up short for Auburn baseball as Tennessee held on to win 8-6 on Sunday to avoid the sweep.
Justin Camp got the loss on the mound for Auburn.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the second when Tennessee had a two-out rally. The Vols brought home their first three runs with an RBI single followed by a two-RBI triple by Scott Price.
The first two innings were all Camp would get as Michael O'Neal replaced him to start off the third.
In the third Tennessee brought home more runs with two outs when they hit a two-RBI single to make it 5-0.
Auburn's offense showed life in the top of the fourth when Blake Austin hit a three run home run to cut Tennessee's lead down to 5-3.
O'Neal pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning and Ryan Tella responded in the top of the sixth with a solo home run.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Vols manufactured two more runs with another two-out rally to increase their lead to 7-4.
Trey Cochran-Gill relieved O'Neal to start off the eighth, but, after he allowed a double and a sacrifice fly, Daniel Koger got the call from the bullpen and got out of the inning.
With one out in the ninth inning Auburn hit three consecutive singles to load the bases for Keegan Thompson, who was walked to bring in Auburn's fifth run. Jordan Ebert then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 8-6. With Damon Haecker up and runners on the corners, pinch runner J.J. Shaffer was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.
Despite the loss, Auburn won their second consecutive SEC series over a Top 25 opponent and will come back home with a 17-8 overall record. The Tigers will play Kennesaw State at Plainsman Park this Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m.
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