Despite holding the high-powered Bulldogs offense at bay, No. 5 Auburn baseball fell 2-1 to No. 4 Georgia in the series opener Thursday night.
Bulldogs' pitching was the difference-maker en route to the program’s 22nd conference victory of the year, which marks a program record. Joey Volchko and Matt Scott combined to throw all nine innings, allowing just one run on four hits to spoil the Tigers’ Senior Day.
Auburn starter Jake Marciano was able to work around a season-tying three walks to pitch six innings and allow just two runs on four hits. The sophomore struck out five but was tagged with the loss, dropping his record to 4-5.
This was an old-fashioned pitchers' duel, as both teams struggled to hit with runners on base. The Tigers finished 1-for-13 and the Bulldogs went 0-for-12 with men aboard. However, clutch hitting from Daniel Jackson and Ryan Wynn helped the road team prevail.
“Well pitched on both sides. I thought (Jake) Marciano did an amazing job and (Jackson) Sanders as well,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “Well-played game. We just didn’t get enough guys on base. We left the zone a little too much. (Georgia did) a little more damage from a very elite offense. When you can hold them to that, you feel like you would have a chance, but their pitchers absolutely matched us, and they wind up with three more hits.”
Mason McCraine got things going early for Auburn in the first, smashing a leadoff double to left-center field. Eric Guevara drove him in on a groundout to shortstop Kolby Branch, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
After taking the lead, Auburn was able to get Chase Fralick and Chris Rembert aboard, but its threat ended when Ethin Bingaman grounded into a double play.
McCraine found himself in scoring position again in the third for Auburn, but Volchko was able to get Fralick looking to escape the jam.
The bats for both sides went quiet until the fifth, when Jackson belted a solo shot over the War Eagle Wall to even the score at 1-1.
The Bulldogs went right back to work in the sixth, as Wynn smashed a home run, his sixth of the year, to left-center field, giving Georgia a 2-1 advantage.
Jackson Sanders took over for Marciano in the seventh and did his job, throwing three scoreless innings to keep Auburn in the game.
However, it wasn’t enough, as Scott retired nine of the final 10 Auburn hitters he faced, earning his fourth save of the year and securing the 2-1 victory for the Bulldogs.
Auburn’s streak of six straight SEC series victories will be on the line at 7 p.m. CDT Friday on SEC Network. Andreas Alvarez will get the start and look for his ninth win of the season.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Rory Garvin, junior in journalism sports production, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Spring 2025. Garvin previously served as a Sports Reporter. He is currently serving as the Assistant Sports Editor.
