COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 19 Auburn suffered a 4-0 loss to No. 12 Texas A&M in the series opener at Blue Bell Park Friday night.
The loss was Auburn's first in a series opener this season, falling to 23-11 overall and 7-6 in league play. Texas A&M improved to 26-9-1 on the year and 8-4-1 in the SEC.
"You keep playing," head coach Butch Thompson said on the Auburn Sports Network. "You keep digging in. You keep looking for the next pitch, the next opportunity, and that's tomorrow. You just keep playing the game. You keep battling."
Tanner Burns (4-1, 2.05) suffered the tough-luck loss – his first of the season – despite turning in a quality start for the sixth time this year. Texas A&M starter John Doxakis (4-2, 1.76) earned the win opposite Burns.
After Burns set down the first 10 batters of the game and struck out four during the span, Texas A&M got on the scoreboard with a single, walk and two-run double in the bottom of the third.
Auburn narrowly missed an RBI double and game-tying home run in the top of the fifth, and the Aggies manufactured a run in the bottom half on a leadoff single, ground ball, wild pitch and sacrifice fly.
After Burns allowed a leadoff double to start the seventh, Blake Schilleci entered in relief and retired all three batters he faced with two strikeouts to get out of the inning unscathed. Burns ultimately tossed 6.0-plus innings and allowed three runs on five hits with one walks and seven strikeouts.
Texas A&M added a run as the first three batters of the bottom of the eighth inning reached.
Schilleci and Will Morrison each worked an inning of relief out of the bullpen. For Morrison, it was his second straight scoreless outing. The freshman hasn't allowed a run in his last 6.2 innings of work.
Judd Ward and Steven Williams collected two hits apiece in the contest.
The two teams continue the three game series tomorrow at 4 p.m. CT.