AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's pitching staff held its opponent to one run for the second straight game this week, but the No. 17 Tigers dropped a 1-0 game against No. 1 Arkansas in its Southeastern Conference home opener Thursday night.
Conner McBride made his first weekend start and turned in 4.0 innings before giving way to relievers Cam Tilly, Tanner Bauman and Will Cannon, who held the Razorbacks scoreless and to just two hits in the final five frames.
"I think this ballclub can play with anybody," head coach Butch Thompson said. "Definitely the last two games with this pitching staff, it gives you confidence that you absolutely can do that.
"We had one or two moments there against an elite pitcher, but we weren't able to put the ball in play or get that one moment," Thompson added. "I really got a lot of what I wanted out of our guys with effort and everything tonight."
The Razorbacks (18-2, 4-0 SEC) got the scoring started in the first inning when shortstop Wehiwa Aloy hit a two-strike fastball over the right-field wall.
After allowing the solo homer, McBride (3-1) settled in and finished with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. He faced just five batters over the minimum before turning it over to the Auburn bullpen.
Leading 1-0, Arkansas loaded the bases with one out in the top of the third, but a fly ball to right field was caught by Bobby Peirce, and he threw a strike home to nab the runner attempting to tag up from third. The assist was Peirce's fourth of the season and 16th of his career.
Trailing by a run, Auburn (14-7, 0-4 SEC) threatened in the fourth as Ike Irish drew a leadoff walk and Peirce singled up the middle. A double steal with one out put both in scoring position, but Arkansas starter Hagen Smith (4-0) struck out back-to-back hitters to end the inning.
Auburn again threatened to tie the game or take the lead as it loaded the bases after an error extended the sixth inning, but a groundout to first kept the Tigers scoreless.
Tilly entered in relief of McBride to start the fifth inning and threw 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts before turning it over to Bauman in the seventh. The senior southpaw stranded a runner on third as he induced a soft liner back at him to end the inning.
Bauman then pitched a scoreless eighth, stranding runners on the corners with an inning-ending strikeout. Cannon entered in the ninth and faced the minimum thanks to the Tigers' second strike-'em-out, throw-'em out double play of the game.
Auburn's middle of the lineup came to the plate in the ninth, but Arkansas reliever Gabe Gaeckle set the Tigers down in order to earn his fifth save.
Irish led the way at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk and hit-by-pitch. The sophomore catcher extended his hit streak to eight games.
Game two in the series is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
No. 17 Auburn drops pitchers’ duel vs. No. 1 Arkansas
