Alabama 2, Auburn 0: Tigers drop series to Tide, third straight to open SEC play

Alabama rolled to a easy 2-0 victory over Auburn at Plainsman Park Sunday, as the Crimson Tide made good use of their two hits on the day.

Two third-inning errors from by baseman Damek Tomscha and starting pitcher Will Kendall allowed the Tide to get out to a 1-0 lead that they held the whole game. Third baseman Kenny Roberts scored for Alabama (18-11, 7-2 SEC) after reaching base on a leadoff walk.

Kendall (0-2) took the loss, but he allowed just one unearned run on a hit and two walks through three innings. Normally a starter, Daniel Koger relieved for the second time this week and pitched the final six innings, giving up just one hit. After Alabama shortstop Mikey White reached base in the seventh with a one-out hit-by-pitch on a 1-2 count, designated hitter Chance Vincent moved him to third with a single. White scored the second Crimson Tide run on a perfect suicide squeeze by left fielder Andrew Miller.

Auburn (16-12, 1-8) only managed four hits on the afternoon and grounded into four double plays, two by Garrett Cooper, in the first five frames. The Tigers again shot themselves in the foot too often, setting up another near lifeless limp to the finish line. They also still couldn't find a spark on the basepaths, as they only tried to steal once, and Hunter Kelley was gunned down in the sixth.

Auburn will host Wofford on Wednesday at 6 p.m., before heading to College Station next weekend to take on the Texas A&M Aggies (18-10, 5-3) in a SEC series for the first time.