Unfortunately for Auburn, the Bulldogs showed the Tigers how it felt.
Trailing by six runs, Georgia scored nine runs in the ninth inning to beat Auburn 14-11 and avoid a SEC series sweep.
“It was two different ball games,” said Auburn coach John Pawlowski. “You’ve got the beginning of the game where we did a lot of positive things. Then in the last inning, they did some good things too.”
Auburn (25-22, 11-13 SEC) now trails Alabama and Arkansas by a game in the SEC West standings with six league games to play.
The Tigers play host to the Crimson Tide next weekend in a three-game series and close out the SEC portion of the schedule the following weekend at Tennessee. Alabama will play host to South Carolina in its final series of the season.
Georgia’s ninth inning rally leaves the Bulldogs 25-23 and 14-10 in SEC play, good for fourth place behind Vanderbilt, Florida and South Carolina.
Auburn helped fuel the Bulldogs’ rally. The Tigers walked 12, including five in the decisive ninth inning to go along with a hit batter.
Georgia had three hits in the inning, including two homers — a three-run shot to center by Chase Davidson and a grand slam to left by Kyle Farmer.
“We’ve got to make pitches,” said Auburn pitcher Sean Ray when asked about the walks. There’s no excuse. Credit to them. They got it done.”
Ray was one of three pitchers to work in relief of starter Slade Smith, who looked in great shape to get the victory after lasting six inning allowing four runs on five hits.
Smith left the game with the Tigers leading 9-4.
Auburn’s pitching had been nothing short of outstanding in a 4-3 11-inning victory over the Bulldogs Friday night and Derek Varnadore’s complete-game shutout in a 3-0 victory on Saturday.
The Tigers’ offense should have been enough to carry the day on Sunday. Casey McElroy was 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs. Kevin Patterson was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and Creede Simpson delivered a three-run homer during Auburn’s eight-run first.
“The walks add up,” Pawlowski said. “That’s the frustrating part. I know our team is disappointed with the loss. Every guy we sent out there, their man goal was to throw strikes. Those guys were working so hard, it just wasn’t mean to be. We’ve got to put it behind us and move on.”
