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Things started out a little rough for Auburn as Keegan Thompson was getting hit hard by the Rebels early in the first game of the SEC Tournament. After significant rain delays and a long Game 1, the game originally scheduled for 4:30 got under way in the late evening hours. That didn't look to have done Keegan any favors.
With Ole Miss leading 2-0 going into the 4th inning, Auburn needed something to happen. With 2 outs, the Tigers mounted a 3-run rally that included a Will Holland double to score the first run and then a Jonah Todd triple for the next 2 to give Auburn a 3-2 lead.
Ole Miss would add one in the 6th off Casey Mize - who entered the game for Auburn in the 4th inning - but Blake Logan his a solo shot to once again give Auburn the lead 4-3 in the following half. Luke Jarvis scored in the bottom of the 8th on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-3.
Ole Miss added a run in a 9th inning rally thanks to a solo home run, but that was all the Rebels could muster against Casey Mize. The normal starter who was pitching from the bullpen allowed only 3 hits, no walks, and struck out 9 in his 6 innings of relief work to give Auburn the 5-4 win over the Rebels.
Auburn will now move into the Double-Elimination portion of the SEC Tournament and will face Florida tonight. The Gators are going to be raring for revenge since Auburn swept them in the opening series of the SEC schedule. That game may or may not happen Wednesday night. The rain in Hoover has significantly altered the schedule. Auburn was supposed to play in the second-to-last game of the night Tuesday night. Instead, UGA and MSU's Game 4 had to be pushed to 9:30 am Central time Wednesday morning.
As of right now, Auburn's game is listed as TBD in the SEC Bracket. Mizzou and LSU are scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm Central. If the weather cooperates and every game stays on schedule, then Auburn and Florida will likely begin around 8:00 pm Central time. If there are more delays and long games, then the Tigers and Gators may be pushed to the first game Thursday morning.
Regardless, with the win Tuesday night it's a virtual lock that the Tigers have scored a post-season birth in the NCAA Tournament. They'll go somewhere and be a 2 or 3 seed. Could they still host? Maybe if they win out and win the whole tournament, but that's not likely to happen.
We've still got at least two games to play in Hoover first, though, to see just what Auburn may be able to come up with. It's good to see Auburn winning in Hoover! War Eagle! Let's complete the season sweep of the Gators!