Auburn baseball fell in the second game of the series 15-6 to the Austin Peay Governors as the Governors evened up the series 1-1.
The Governors' bats were hot, and they scored early and often, putting the Tigers in an early 3-0 deficit in the top of the first inning. The game's first two batters reached on singles, and Austin Peays Brody Szako punched in the runners with a three-run home run.
Auburn did its best to respond at the bottom of the frame. A Mason Manners single led to a two-run home run from Cooper Weiss, which brought the Tigers within one run.
Unfortunately for Auburn, the one-run deficit was the closest the Tigers got within at any point past the first inning. The Governors scored runs in seven out of nine innings and increased their lead early with runs in the top of the third and fourth innings, giving the Governors an early 5-2 lead.
“I think that is the worst game I have been a part of as head coach of Auburn. I will take ownership of that,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “It was a pretty lethargic and pretty rough outing by our guys. It all started on the mound, and give all the credit to their guys. I think in seven innings, we had one real swing, and that was Weiss.”
Austin Peay starter Andrew Devine shut down the Tigers and pitched seven innings. His only two runs allowed was the Weiss two-run home run.
Starter Carson Myers struggled in the game and only pitched three innings, but he was responsible for seven hits and four earned runs, which forced the Tigers to go to their bullpen early.
After Hayden Murphy relieved Myers in the top of the fourth inning, he faced only three batters and recorded one out. Auburn used five more pitchers in the game, with Parker Carlson, the only pitcher who did not allow a run.
“He was a bright spot today,” Thompson said. “The breaking ball and the fastball was enough, and he has done that more consistently, and that was the missed opportunity for a few guys today to kind of show us something in that setting.”
Carlson finished the day with 1.1 innings pitched, zero hits, and one strikeout, but it wasn’t enough as the Governors tallied 31 runners on base with 16 hits, nine walks and five reaching via error.
Despite the 15 runs scored, the most Auburn has allowed in a game this season, seven runs were unearned, as the Tigers recorded a season-high seven errors.
“It’s a quick flush, and you have to get right back out here and try to win a series tomorrow,” Thompson said. “We need to be interested in getting back out here and competing tomorrow.”
Auburn and Austin Peay are even in the series, with the finale in Plainsman Park on March 10. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
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Craig Noyes is a junior from Kensington, Maryland, majoring in journalism. He joined The Plainsman in January 2023.
Twitter: @craignoyes58
