STARKVILLE, Miss. – Auburn jumped out to a lead in the top of the third but was shutout for the final six frames in an 8-1 loss to Mississippi State in the series opener at Dudy Noble Field Friday night.
Mississippi State scored in the third through seventh innings to seize the momentum, and starting pitcher Khal Stephen didn't allow an earned run with 11 strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
"We have to bring some offense on the road, especially with where we're at pitching wise," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We saw a real No. 1 tonight in Stephen but still had a chance. We had the bases loaded twice, and when he was able to get us out of the bases-loaded jams, that was huge. He made a couple of big pitches in the moment that held up for him tonight."
Auburn (19-18, 2-14 SEC) threatened to start the scoring in the top of the second after Gavin Miller hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third on a flyout to center field. However, Stephen got a strikeout and popup to escape the inning unscathed.
Dylan Watts worked his second scoreless frame to start the game, and the Tigers went right back to work at the plate, ultimately taking a 1-0 lead on a two-out, two-strike passed ball. Cale Stricklin hit a one-out single and Cooper Weiss followed with a double before Cooper McMurray was intentionally walked with two outs. Stephen's 0-2 pitch to Gavin Miller crossed up the catcher and allowed Stricklin to scamper home from third.
Mississippi State (24-14, 8-8 SEC) answered immediately with a leadoff single and hit-by-pitch followed by a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to tie the game, 1-1.
Auburn went down in order on strikeouts in the top of the fourth, and the Bulldogs took the lead on a one-out solo homer in the home half.
Stephen worked another clean frame in the fifth, and Mississippi State added to its lead with two unearned runs on an errant throw with two outs, making it 4-1 through five.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks with one out in the sixth. Parker Carlson entered in relief of Conner McBride and did a good job to minimize the damage as just one run scored on a RBI fielder's choice.
Auburn returned the favor by loading the bases with one out in the seventh, but Stephen notched his 10th and 11th strikeouts of the game against the top of the Auburn order to strand three.
Tyler Davis relieved Stephen to start the eighth and worked the final two frames to end the game.
Stricklin led Auburn with three hits, marking his second straight game with multiple hits.
Game two between the Tigers and Bulldogs is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Auburn falls in series opener at Mississippi State
