Auburn Falls to Ole Miss, Sees College World Series Dreams End

The Auburn Tigers baseball season has come to an end. 

The team was eliminated after losing their second straight game to Ole Miss at home in Super Regionals on Saturday, one step away from heading to Omaha. 

Auburn fell 5-3 after the offense failed to capitalize on base traffic for the second game in a row. 

Alex Petrovic got the start for the Tigers and was extremely efficient to begin his outing. He breezed through the first five innings until giving up his first hit in the bottom of the sixth. After an ill-timed mound visit, Petrovic allowed an extra base hit, allowing the Rebels to tie the game at 2. 

Petrovic was quickly pulled after that as Jackson Sanders entered the game in relief. Unfortunately, it just wasn't Sanders' day, as he hit multiple batters and allowed three earned runs, including two home runs, in just two innings. He was handed the loss for the game. 

The performance from the pitching staff should have been enough, but the Auburn offense just couldn't get it going. When they did, they couldn't capitalize on the base paths. The Tigers left seven men on base and were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. 

Auburn's batters also struck out nine times in the contest. 

Questions now turn to what changes may occur to Butch Thompson's roster and staff in the offseason. The transfer portal is already open and will remain so until June 30th. Players have until the end of the month to enter their name if they choose to leave the program. 

There is also plenty of criticism of Auburn's hitting coach, Gabe Gross, after losing both games at Plainsman Park two seasons in a row during Super Regionals. He has been on staff with Thompson since the 2018 season and is a former Tigers player, so it is uncertain if a change will actually occur. 

College Baseball will, of course, continue as they look to crown a new national champion. Ole Miss has punched their ticket as one of 8 teams that will fight for a chance at the College World Series in Omaha beginning June 12th.