Canadian Julien drives in three in Auburn's extra-inning loss

Junior National Team alum Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) had three RBIs for Auburn on Saturday. Photo Credit: Wade Rackley, Auburn Athletics

February 16, 2019

By George Nunnelley

Auburn Athletics

Tigers fall to Georgia Southern in extra-inning maration

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 15 Auburn fell to Georgia Southern, 7-5, in a 13-inning affair in front of a sold-out crowd at Plainsman Park Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers forced extra-innings as Kason Howell hit a RBI single into left-center field with one out in the ninth inning. However, a two-run top of the 13th was the difference for Georgia Southern in the game.

“We hit the ball hard at times today and got locked into three or four innings there at the end, which we’ve been practicing every Tuesday and Wednesday – playing the ninth inning,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “We just couldn’t come away with the big hit. We hit some balls hard, but the gamesmanship and the opponent that we are playing had a lot to do with it today.”

After each side held the opponent scoreless in three extra frames, Georgia Southern took the lead on a solo home run to start the 13th and extended its advantage on a wild pitch.

Junior right-hander Ryan Watson (0-1, 5.40) suffered the loss opposite Eagles southpaw Aiden McAllister (1-0, 0.00). Watson didn’t allow a baserunner and struck out a pair in his first three innings before giving up the solo home run.

Auburn drew first blood with a four-run third inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double to left field off the bat of sophomore third baseman Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.).

Georgia Southern was able to draw even behind a pair of two-run frames in the sixth and seventh innings. However, the Eagles’ potential go-ahead run was cut down at the plate as Judd Ward made a strong throw from left field to end the inning and keep the Tigers even.

Ward and Howell not only played a solid defense with a pair of diving catches in the earlier stages of the game, but the duo finished the contest a combined 5-for-9 with a run and two RBI. Ward collected a career-high three hits.

Sophomore starting pitcher Tanner Burns, who responded from a scare on a comebacker in the first inning, was sharp in his debut as he pitched five innings and gave up one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

“That’s definitely what we learned about Tanner Burns today,” Thompson said of his sophomore pitcher’s toughness. “He hung in that ballgame, his stuff got better and better. I tip my hat to Tanner Burns.”

Auburn used six relievers in the drawn-out contest, including freshmen hurlers Brooks Fuller, Will Morrison and Garrett Wade, who each made their Auburn debuts in the contest.

The rubber match in the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Plainsman Park. Redshirt junior Kyle Gray will make his Auburn debut on the mound against Georgia Southern senior right-hander Daniel Collins.