AUBURN, Ala. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener to No. 16 Auburn, 5-2, Friday night (March 30) at Plainsman Park. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a leadoff homer on the first pitch of the game before Auburn starter – projected first round draft pick Casey Mize – tossed 7.1 innings in his sixth win of the season. He allowed two runs on five hits without a walk while striking out seven. It was his fewest strikeouts in a start this season and just the fourth time he has allowed multiple runs in a start.

Mizzou sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) took the loss, his first of the season, after allowing four runs on six hits over 6.0 innings. Auburn tagged him for two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

Mizzou falls to 19-7 (3-4 SEC) while Auburn improves to 22-5and 4-3 in SEC play.

TURNING POINT
With Mizzou trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Auburn finally got to Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema after the first-inning barrage. Sikkema walked the leadoff man Will Holland, despite getting ahead 1-2. He then walked Steven Williams despite being up 0-2 and three-hole hitter Brendan Venter made him pay, roping a single to right field to extend Auburn’s lead to 3-1. The home Tigers added a run a sacrifice fly and took a 4-1 lead.

Mizzou cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.), but Auburn DH Edouard Julien hit a leadoff homer in the bottom half of the frame and that was all the scoring Friday.

TOP TIGERS
– Senior OF Trey Harris homered on the first pitch of the game, taking a fastball to left center for his third homer of the year. He has reached base safely in 18 straight games.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games and hit safely in eight.

NOTES
– Despite the loss, Mizzou still leads the all-time series with Auburn, 10-5.

– Mizzou falls to 5-2 on Fridays this season.

– Mizzou is now 11-5 in three-game series this season.

– Mizzou falls to 4-4 on the road and 6-6 away from home this season.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games.

– Senior OF Trey Harris has reach base in 18 straight games as well after his first-inning homer.

– Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 12th time in the last 16 games. On the year, Mizzou has scored in the first inning in 15 of 26 games, going 13-2 in those contests.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Auburn play game two of their three-game set Saturday at 6 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —