After an electric series win against No. 2 South Carolina, the Auburn Tigers (25-19-1, 9-13 SEC) returned home to host No. 1 LSU (37-8, 16-5 SEC). Led by a 7.1-inning, 15-strikeout performance by ace pitcher Paul Skenes, the Bayou Bengals shut out the Tigers, securing a 3-0 win.
“Our guys played great. I thought we pitched great,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “We played great defense, and again, the pitching was intact here. We’re just waiting to try to put a few at-bats together and had a tough time doing that because of the skill that was on the mound.”
LSU got an early jump on Auburn with a two-run homer hit by left fielder Tre’ Morgan just three pitches into the game, but Auburn’s defense contained the visiting Tigers to seven scoreless innings afterward.
The Bayou Bengals returned the favor by keeping Auburn’s offense contained through six innings. Morgan hit an RBI single in the seventh to further LSU's lead to 3-0 and the defense kept Auburn scoreless for the rest of the match.
The Tigers' pitching kept LSU to three runs and five hits, but the nation’s leading offense capitalized on the mound’s mistakes — one hit by pitch, one balk and five walks.
RHP Chase Allsup (0-1) started on the mound for Auburn. Although Allsup earned his first loss of the season, he pitched a career-high four innings.
Allsup had a rough start to his outing with his first pitch hitting leadoff batter Gavin Dugas, and his third pitch being hit for a home run. Allsup kept his composure recording one strikeout and two walks with only three hits and two runs for his outing.
LHP Tanner Bauman relieved Allsup in the fifth, starting his outing with a strikeout. Pitching 2.1 innings, Bauman had one strikeout, two walks, two hits and one earned run.
RHP Chase Isbell replaced Bauman on the mound in the seventh. Isbell recorded three strikeouts and one walk in 1.2 innings, allowing no hits or runs.
RHP Hayden Murphy took over for Isbell in the ninth, pitching one inning. Murphy started his outing with a strikeout. The freshman ended his outing with two strikeouts and no walks, hits or runs.
LSU’s pitching staff kept Auburn’s offense in check with 18 total strikeouts and just one walk, allowing seven hits.
Left fielder Chris Stanfield, center fielder Kason Howell and third baseman Bryson Ware led the offense with two hits each. First baseman Cooper McMurray had one hit.
The Tigers and the Bayou Bengals return to Plainsman Park for Saturday’s matchup at 8 p.m. CST on the SEC Network. For the first time in Auburn baseball history, there will be an eagle flight before the game.
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Caitlyn Griffin is a sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in journalism. She started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
Twitter: @caitlyngrif99
