The Auburn baseball team played their first game of the Round Rock Classic tournament against Oklahoma this afternoon, and although the Tigers fought to extra innings they lost their first game of the season to the Sooners.
Auburn led Oklahoma 3-1 until the Sooners recorded two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie things up and send it to overtime. With the bases loaded, a single past Auburn’s second baseman Brody Moore sealed the deal for the Sooners, who would ultimately win 4-3.
According to AuburnTigers.com, Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson thought the turning point of the game was Judd Ward’s out on bases-loaded:
"“I thought we came back out and swung the bats again with a ton of confidence,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “We had a starter throwing really well, hit the ball hard, and I thought the turning point was when (Godman) got in the ballgame with the bases loaded, nobody out. Judd Ward could not have hit the ball any harder and the shortstop caught it, and it kind of turned from there.”"
The Tigers recorded 11 total hits in the game, with two RBIs and two home runs from Ryan Bliss and Steven Williams. Bliss led the team with three hits, while Rankin Woley, Kason Howell, and Cam Hill each added two hits to the count.
Final from Round Rock.#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/O7guhpraDS
— Auburn Baseball (@AuburnBaseball) February 26, 2021
The loss to Oklahoma marks the first loss of the Tigers’ season, coming off a record-breaking game against Alabama A&M at Plainsman Park. Auburn baseball will face off against Baylor tomorrow at noon. The Baylor Bears baseball team is just 1-2 this season after three games were cancelled due to inclement weather.
In addition to the Auburn-Baylor matchup, Oklahoma will be facing Texas A&M, who Auburn will then face for the last game of the tournament on Sunday.