SATURDAY'S SCORES
#23 Auburn 5,
Tennessee Tech 3 (Tallahassee, Fla.)
#23 AUBURN 5, TENNESSEE TECH 3
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After taking a 2-1 lead in the third inning, Tennessee Tech saw Auburn scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning on its way to a 5-3 victory on Saturday at the NCAA Baseball Regional.
With the loss Tennessee Tech (41-20) fell into the Loser's Bracket where they will play host and No. 1 seed Florida State on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT (ESPN3). The Golden Eagles topped Florida State on Friday night; FSU eliminated Central Florida on Saturday.
Auburn (37-24), ranked No. 23 nationally, scored in the first inning on a single by Daniel Robert. But the Golden Eagles tied it an inning later as Ryan Flick, the OVC Tournament MVP, launched his 20th home run of the season. An inning later Trevor Putzig doubled in Alex Junior to give Tech the lead.
After the Tigers scored three times in the fourth, there was no more scoring until the seventh inning when Chase Chambers hit a solo home run, his 19th of the year, to pull Tech to within a run.
But Auburn would add a solo home run in the eighth to account for the final score.
Starter Jake Usher (5-3) took the loss, allowing four runs in 3.1 innings of work. In relief Kit Fowler allowed only one hit over the next 3.1 innings.
Auburn ace Casey Mize (8-2) struck out 12 while walking only one in the complete game effort.