ATLANTA – No. 23 Auburn dropped the season series vs. No. 16 Georgia Tech after falling to the Yellow Jackets, 11-6, Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
"We've got to create a different rhythm in our ballclub," head coach Butch Thompson said on the Auburn Sports Network. "(The players) are fighting hard, but we've got to get a different rhythm going with our ballclub."
Auburn (24-13) jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two innings. Conor Davis drove in the first run of the game on a RBI single to right field in the first. The Tigers tacked on two more in the next at-bat on a RBI single from Judd Ward and RBI fielder's choice from Kason Howell.
However, Georgia Tech (25-12) chipped into the lead with a run in the third and took a one-run advantage with three more in the fourth.
Auburn tied the game on a RBI groundout from Matt Scheffler in the fifth, but Georgia Tech scored three in the home half and another in the sixth to make it an 8-4 ballgame.
Steven Williams hit a RBI single to center field in the top of the seventh to cut into the lead, but the Yellow Jackets scored two more runs after the seventh inning stretch to push the advantage to five.
Edouard Julien drove in a run on his team-best 11th double of the season in the eighth. Georgia Tech answered again, though, with a run in the home half to get to the eventual final of 11-6.
Rankin Woley led the way with three hits, while Ward and Howell added two hits apiece. For Howell and Woley, it was their team-best 12th multi-hit game of the year.
After entering the game as defensive replacements in the bottom of the eighth, Brett Olson and Ed Johnson recorded a pair of base hits in the ninth. It was Olson's first hit of the season.
The Tigers continue SEC play with a three-game series vs. No. 17 Ole Miss (25-12, 9-6 SEC) Thursday through Saturday at Plainsman Park.