AUBURN, Ala. – No. 17 Auburn turned in its sixth shutout in the last 10 games with a 2-0 win against No. 21 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener Friday night at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers' (16-2, 1-0 SEC) sixth shutout of the season is one more than the team turned in a year ago and is sixth in single-season history. Tennessee (17-2, 0-1 SEC) came into the game having scored at least five runs in 15 games so far.
Tanner Burns turned in his third straight scoreless start and hasn't allowed a run in his last 22.2 innings of work. The Decatur, Alabama, native tossed 6.2 innings and allowed no runs on four hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
"It feels like Tanner gives us a chance every time he rolls out," head coach Butch Thompson said. "He would bend a little bit, but never broke. He made some really good pitches. He was strong from the first inning all the way to the seventh."
Burns struck out two batters in four of his six innings of work and retired nine straight batters from the third until the sixth inning with six strikeouts during the span. He has struck out 48 batters and issued five walks in 33.1 innings this season.
"I was just trying to slow it down out there," Burns said. "Just taking a deep breath, I think that's what kind of got me through the game."
Tennessee threatened in the top of the sixth as the Volunteers got back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. However, on his 102nd pitch of the night, Burns froze Evan Roberts on a 3-2 fastball with the runners in motion to end the Volunteer threat.
The game remained scoreless until Kason Howell executed a slash play with a chopped double over the head of a crashing third baseman in the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Bliss was cruising into third base before being sent home to score the first run of the game as the ball was misplayed in left field. Two batters later, Matt Scheffler doubled the Auburn lead as he drove in Howell on a groundball to short.
The two-run bottom of the seventh was all the Tigers would need as relievers Elliott Anderson and Cody Greenhill held the Volunteers hitless over the final 2.1 innings.
Anderson (3-0, 0.51) came in for Burns in the bottom of the seventh to earn his third win in relief this season. Greenhill struck out four of the seven batter he faced to earn his third save of the season and seal the win for the Tigers.
"Anytime I can get the ball, I want it," Greenhill said. "I want to give my guys a chance to win. Ever since the little injury in the fall, my arm has been getting stronger and stronger every week."
The Auburn pitching staff struck out 13 Volunteer batters on the night, marking the team's 13th game this season with double digit strikeouts.
Offensively, Conor Davis collected multiple hits for the third straight game and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Steven Williams extended his on-base streak to 24 games dating back to last season.
Game two between the Tigers and Volunteers is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park. The game will be broadcast on national TV on SEC Network. Auburn left-hander Jack Owen (3-0, 0.00) with square off with Tennessee righty Zach Linginfelter (4-0, 0.75).