Auburn baseball has dropped four straight. Following a weekend sweep from Alabama, the Tigers slipped up yet again against another state foe, UAB, by a score of 8-2.
Last week, following a series win at Mississippi State, the Tigers received a top 5 ranking — its first in 18 years — and were at the top of the SEC West. Now, four losses later, Auburn has dropped to fifth in the division.
The biggest concern that I’ve seen recently are the number of runners left on base. Dozens were stranded over the course of the weekend, and an additional 13 were left on last night.
Against UAB, Auburn left the bases loaded twice. And with a thinner midweek pitching staff, the run support has to be stronger. Regular Tuesday night starter Christian Camacho took the mound for the Tigers and allowed three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
Unlike Auburn, UAB was able to take advantage of their baserunners early and translated hits to runs. The Tigers played six pitchers in the game, allowing a combined 14 hits to the Blazers.
Auburn, on the other hand, had eight hits and drew six walks, yet only managed to score two runs. It’s crucial that this team takes advantage of every opportunity given to them, because who knows how many more they’re going to get.
SEC baseball is somehow more cutthroat and cannibalistic than football, so if any team slips up on any given weekend, there are always two or three more teams behind that are looking to jump them. There are no off-days in this conference.
All hope is not lost, though. Auburn has two more conference series to make up for last weekend’s sweep. This weekend in Baton Rouge against LSU, and next weekend at home against Ole Miss.
LSU will be a tough task for the Tigers, but a silver lining stat heading into the series is the fact that Auburn is 3-1 in road series this season. Both of these series are winnable — it’s time to get back on track.
This team has come too far this season to throw it all away now.
The post The Downward Spiral? appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.
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