Tigers fall in series opener at No. 20 Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. – Auburn lost the series opener at No. 20 Georgia, 4-0, Thursday night at Foley Field.
 
A sixth-inning grand slam was the difference in what was otherwise a pitcher's duel between the two teams.
 
Auburn starter Jack Owen (1-3, 5.35) held Georgia scoreless in his first 5.0 innings before allowing a leadoff walk and single to start the sixth. Both runs eventually scored on the go-ahead grand slam.
 
Georgia starter Ryan Webb (3-3, 2.73) and reliever Ben Harris combined for the shutout. Webb faced the minimum and struck out six in 6.0 innings.
 
"I tip my hat to Webb," head coach Butch Thompson said. "I thought anybody that was watching the game, you just have to. That's probably the best SEC outing by an opponent that we've faced."
 
Rankin Woley narrowly missed a home run to left field in the first and hit another ball to the warning track in the fourth but came up empty on both occasions. Kason Howell hit a one-out single to left in the third but was doubled off on a sharply hit line drive to first by Judd Ward.
 
Owen worked around a double in each of the first three innings and stranded four baserunners to stay scoreless. He worked a 1-2-3 fourth before a two-base error started the fifth. However, the senior lefty retired three straight with a flyout to left and back-to-back strikeouts to keep Georgia in check.
 
Mason Barnett relieved Owen with two on and nobody out to start the sixth. The sophomore righty struck out the first batter he faced but issued a one-out walk to load the bases, and Fernando Gonzalez hit a grand slam to right to account for the scoring.
 
Auburn threatened to cut into the deficit after a one-out walk and single from Rankin Woley put runners on the corners in the seventh, but a double play ended the inning.
 
Will Morrison entered to face the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh and allowed a leadoff single but retired the next six batters he faced. It was Morrison's eighth scoreless relief outing, including his seventh in SEC play.
 
The two teams turn around tomorrow for game two at 6 p.m. CT.