Auburn beats Southeastern, 7-1

AUBURN, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game series at No. 20-ranked Auburn, 7-1, Friday ay Plainsman Park.

Despite being a low-scoring affair between Southeastern (9-5) and the Tigers (12-1-1) early, there were plenty of scoring opportunities for both squads.

The Lions stranded six through the first three innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the second. After retiring the side in order in the first, SLU starting pitcher Brennan Stuprich stranded a pair in scoring position in the second.

Auburn broke through in the third, loading the bases before a two-run double and a sacrifice fly plated three.

Stuprich bounced back with a scoreless fourth and the Lion bats responded.

Tyler Finke lined an infield single off the pitcher’s foot. Headland, Alabama native Jake Killingsworth followed with an RBI double to right-center field, driving in Finke from first.

With all the traffic on the base paths, neither starting pitcher made it through the fifth inning. Auburn pulled their starter, Tanner Bauman, after Killingsworth’s double. The Lions pulled Stuprich in favor of a matchup with a runner at first and one out in the fifth.

Reliever Jackson Rodriguez retired two of the next three hitters, striking out one, to escape the inning.

Southeastern threatened in the sixth, leaving runners on the corners. Auburn, however, did more than threaten in the bottom of the inning. Following a pair of walk, Tiger shortstop Cole Foster deposited a Hayden Robb pitch beyond the SLU bullpen in right field.

Foster hit three home runs in the Regional game against the Lions last season. He finished the night 4-for-5 at the plate in the series opener with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Auburn added another run in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Tiger reliever Parker Carlson (1-0) earned the win, striking out two of the three batters he faced while working a scoreless fifth. John Armstrong earned his first save of the season, logging 3.1 hitless and scoreless innings to close it out.

Stuprich (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs – all earned – in 4.1 innings pitched. He scattered six hits and two walks, striking out three batters.

Killingsworth was 2-for-4 at the plate, driving in the Lions’ only run. Rhett Rosevear was 1-for-2 at the plate, reaching base four times in the game thanks to a pair of walks and his nation-leading 12th HBP of the season.

UP NEXT

Due to inclement weather in the Sunday forecast, the teams will wrap up the series with a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Plainsman Park. Junior right-hander Will Kinzeler (3-0, 1.56), who ranks fourth nationally in wins, draws the starting assignment Saturday for SLU opposite Tiger southpaw Zach Crotchfelt (0-0, 6.35). Neither head coach has announced a starting pitcher for Sunday’s series finale.