Two home runs from center fielder Anfernee Grier couldn't push Auburn over the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday. The Tigers dropped the series finale 4-3, also losing a spot at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama next week.
“Anfernee had a great day and one of the top, special arms in our league,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “He hit two home runs and was really the reason they went to the bullpen when they did.”
Auburn starter Casey Mize (2-5) had seven strikeouts through six innings to tie his SEC high, but it wasn't enough to take down No. 12 Vanderbilt.
“Casey Mize just shows you what he can be and gives you so much hope for the future,” Thompson said.
Grier’s 11th home run of the season gave Auburn (23-33, 8-22) a 1-0 lead in the third. His second shot of the day came in the fifth to cut the Tiger deficit to 3-2. The junior reached base four times, including three hits, and was the first Auburn player to homer twice in a game in either SEC or non-conference play since 2013.
The Commodores (41-15, 18-12) rallied for three runs on four hits in the fourth inning and widened its lead to 4-2 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Cody Nulph RBI single made it 4-3 in the eighth and Andrew Mitchell struck out two in two scoreless relief innings.
“For all the seniors I just thank them for what they did. This was not the year any of us wanted, but I know they are going to be part of something special as we rebrand Auburn baseball and get this program to where we want it to be,” said Thompson. “Special thanks to our fans and the people that have hung with us. We’ve got to keep fighting hard to get this program where it needs to be and we will do it.”
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