HOOVER, Ala. – Auburn (33-24) fell to Vanderbilt (46-10) in eight innings as the No. 1 seed Commodores run-rule the Tigers 11-1 in the second round of the SEC Tournament.
Vanderbilt got the scoring started in the second inning where they plated two, and the Commodores piled on four more runs in the third inning to take an early 6-0 lead.
“I thought we played too timid early in the ballgame,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “Once they had the big inning there in the third, we had no response. We never could do anything offensively to kind of force them to get off their plan.”
Auburn scored in the fourth inning with a solo home run from Will Holland, but that was all Auburn could muster offensively as they finished the day with two hits. Vanderbilt pitcher Mason Hickman made short work of Auburn hitters throwing six innings and striking out nine batters. He improved his season record to 7-0.
Kyle Gray got the start for the Tigers, but he was pulled after facing six batters and allowing one run on two hits. With a depleted pitching staff, Auburn ventured into the depths of their bullpen using seven different arms in the game. Gray was credited with the loss.
Vanderbilt tacked on one run in the fifth and seventh innings. The Commodores ended the game in the eighth inning with a two-RBI single from Stephen Scott. Vanderbilt right fielder JJ Bleday posted a career high in hits (5) and doubles (2). He finished 5-5 with two runs and one RBI.
Auburn drops to the loser’s bracket to play the loser of No. 4 seed Mississippi State and No. 5 seed LSU in an elimination game Thursday.
