April 1, 2018
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AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" No. 9 Auburn dropped a rubber match against No. 24 Missouri, 5-0, Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
The loss drops Auburn to 22-7 overall and 4-5 in Southeastern Conference play, while Missouri moves to 21-7 on the season and 5-4 in the league.
"I thought our pitching held up pretty well and gave us a chance," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Offensively, scoring one run in the last two days is tough. We must get better. There needs to be a reset and a refocus because it doesn't get any easier moving forward."
Freshman pitcher Tanner Burns (2-4, 2.43) suffered the loss after throwing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs (no earned) on one hit with three walks and six strikeouts.
Opposite Burns, Missouri right-hander Bryce Montes De Oca (4-1, 2.40) earned the win as he pitched 6.0 scoreless innings and allowed one hit with four walks and five strikeouts.
Burns had retired 13 straight until an error allowed a Missouri batter to reach with one out in the fifth inning. After a strikeout, a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases before Trey Harris hit a grand slam to left field. It was the only hit allowed by Burns in the outing.
Auburn drew six walks in the game and got a single to right field from Steven Williams, but it wasn't enough as Missouri tacked on a run on a sac fly from Harris in the top of the seventh.
Freshman left-hander Jack Owen tossed a scoreless inning of relief, while Calvin Coker made his team-high 15th appearances of the season and pitched the final 3.0 innings.
Auburn turns around for four games next week, beginning with a midweek matchup against Alabama A&M (7-21, 4-8 SWAC) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park.