HOOVER, Ala. – Bryson Ware tied No. 13 Auburn's single-season record with his 23rd home run, one of three Tiger homers, but No. 6 Vanderbilt won 6-4 Wednesday in the second round of the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met, ending Auburn's win streak at nine.
Ware's two-run line drive homer scored Cooper McMurray, who drew a leadoff walk in the ninth, to pull the Tigers within two runs with no outs, but Vanderbilt's Patrick Reilly retired the next three batters to end the game.
"Bryson Ware at least gave us a shot," Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. "That was a big home run. That made it like it's possible in the ninth. That was a big one. What an amazing year. I couldn't be more proud for Byrson."
Ware tied Hunter Morris (2010) for the most home runs in a season in program history.
Cole Foster homered for the second straight night, belting a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right in the top of the first inning.
Vanderbilt answered immediately, scoring two runs on a pair of walks, two Enrique Bradfield Jr. stolen bases, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to lead 2-1 after the first inning.
Auburn starter Chase Allsup retired the Commodores in order in the second inning, thanks in part to Chris Stanfield's diving catch in left field.
Minutes later, Stanfield brought the Auburn crowd to its feet again by blasting a solo homer to center to tie the score at 2-2.
Allsup retired 10 straight until issuing a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. After a rocky start, the sophomore sailed through four scoreless innings.
"The main thing was put the head in the mitt and stay through the strike zone," Allsup said. "Just play catch with Nate (LaRue)."
Allsup (1-2) allowed three runs in 5.0 innings, exiting after Vanderbilt's first two batters reached in the top of the sixth.
John Armstrong relieved Allsup and allowed an inherited runner to score on a fielder's choice but struck out a Commodore with the bases loaded to keep the Tigers within a run at 3-2.
Reilly struck out five straight Tigers in the fifth and sixth innings. Reilly (4-3) earned the victory, striking out eight while allowing two runs in 5.0 innings.
"Reilly was the difference in the ballgame," Thompson said.
Ike Irish led off the top of the seventh with Auburn's fourth hit of the game, advancing to second on Kason Howell's sacrifice bunt, but a strikeout and popup ended the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Bradfield reached second base on a throwing error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to put Vanderbilt ahead 4-2 before Auburn turned a double play to end the inning.
Drew Nelson relieved Armstrong after back-to-back walks to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Both free passes proved costly as the Commodores added two more runs on a pair of two-strike singles and a sacrifice fly.
Five of Vanderbilt's six runs reached base via walk or error to give Auburn its first loss since May 5.
"Bradfield put pressure on us," Thompson said. "We created too much offense for them with the walks. No matter where we play or what time of day we play, we're going to have to make the other fellow beat us, have disciplined at-bats and dominate routine plays."
Ware accounted for two of Auburn's five hits.
Auburn (34-20-1, 17-13 SEC) plays Alabama (39-18, 16-14 SEC) Thursday at 1 p.m. CT in an elimination game.
"We'll be ready to go," Thompson said. "We'll get to bed, get up here and get ready to fight. We need to bounce back. We're learning more about our team every day we play."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
