COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 12 Auburn fell to South Carolina, 4-0, in the second game of the three-game set Saturday afternoon at Founders Park.
The loss drops Auburn to 21-6 overall and 5-3 in Southeastern Conference play, while South Carolina moves to 17-10 on the season and 2-6 in the league. It also marked the first time the Tigers had been shut out this season.
"Our pitchers kept us in striking distance," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We've just got to go back to the drawing boards and see what we've got to do to come out and play offense tomorrow."
Freshman Brooks Fuller (1-1, 2.08) suffered the tough-luck loss after pitching a career-high 5.0 innings in his first SEC start. The Auburn, Alabama, native stranded four runners in scoring position and allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
Opposite Fuller, South Carolina right-hander Reid Morgan (3-0, 2.17) earned the win as he pitched 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
South Carolina struck first on a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman designated hitter Ian Jenkins got to Fuller with the long ball.
The Gamecocks plated three more runs without recording a hit in the sixth inning. The Tigers surrendered four walks and committed an error while also throwing a wild pitch and allowing a passed ball in the frame.
Right-hander Ryan Watson kept the Gamecocks off the board over the final 2.1 innings. Watson struck out a career-high four batters and faced just one batter over the minimum.
"I thought that was maybe Ryan's finest outing as an Auburn Tiger," Thompson added. "Three years of pitching or two and a half, I thought in some instances that was some of his best work that he's done in an Auburn uniform."
Offensively, Kason Howell recorded multiple hits for the second straight game and three of the last four. The freshmen outfielder also stole two bases for the third time this season. Judd Ward extended his career-best hitting streak to seven games.
The rubber match between the Tigers and Gamecocks is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network. Auburn will send left-hander Carson Skipper (3-1, 5.48) to the mound opposite South Carolina right-hander TJ Shook (2-0, 2.66).