Auburn fell 6-5 in 10 innings in Saturday's series finale against Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium.
After taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers conceded five runs in the final four innings before losing the game on a walk-off in the 10th.
“You’re going to have to beat the No. 1 team in the country to beat them, said head coach Butch Thompson. "They stuck around. They came at us four different times. At the end of the day it’s the 12 walks. We kind of created the offense for them and just opened the door. Winds up another one-run contest in extra innings.”
Auburn jumped out to an early lead off a leadoff single by Ryan Bliss, which was followed by a two-run home run from Judd Ward. Following the early offense, the Tigers were hitless until the sixth inning, but Tyler Miller broke the streak with a three-run knock over the center-field fence.
Joseph Gonzalez started on the mound and was scoreless through his first five innings, conceding only a single hit. The Razorbacks managed to get on the scoreboard in the sixth when the first four batters reached base.
With two on and nobody out, Carson Skipper entered the game in relief and limited Arkansas to two runs in the inning.
Auburn's defense produced a bases-loaded double play, the fourth of the game for the Tigers, to record the first two outs in the eighth inning. Three straight walks, though, cut the Auburn lead to one entering the ninth.
Despite putting the leadoff man aboard, the Tigers failed to add to their lead in the ninth. After a one-out walk and a single that placed base runners on the corners, Arkansas tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the ninth.
In the 10th inning, Auburn's leadoff man got on base, but the Tigers failed to score.
After a double and intentional walk put two runners on with one out, Arkansas' Christian Franklin popped a ground ball down the third baseline to win it.
Auburn returns to the Plains to host Kennesaw State Tuesday at 6 p.m. CST.
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