Special to the News

MOBILE — Auburn’s attempt at a second consecutive come-from-behind win came up just short on Tuesday night as it dropped a 4-3 decision at South Alabama at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (17-11) capitalized on a throwing error by Auburn reliever Evan Crawford on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the bottom of the seventh that led to a pair of unearned runs to break open a tie game and hand Michael Hurst (1-1) a hard-luck loss.

Hurst threw two innings but was touched up for an unearned run on two hits. Mike Bianucci (2-for-4, three runs scored) brought Auburn (18-11) to within a run with his fifth home run of the season — 27th of his career — in the top of the eighth and Auburn would get the tying run to
second two times after Bianucci’s blast, but could not bring it home either time.

Joseph Sanders (2-for-3) had knotted the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth with a RBI single down the line in left that scored Bianucci.

Auburn had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Bianucci raced home on a passed ball as Hunter Morris (2-for-3) was stealing second only to have South Alabama put themselves in the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Bunky Kateon’s two-RBI double to the gap.

Matt Hall extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single through the left-side to lead off the third, while Brian Fletcher extended his hitting streak to seven games with a lead-off single in the fifth.

Taylor Thompson had a solid outing for Auburn, going three innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out four.

Auburn travels to Arkansas this weekend.