Mann Makes History as Auburn Finishes Doubleheader Sweep

AUBURN, Ala. – Luke Mann delivered a Missouri record-tying 49th career home run, but No. 19 Auburn handed the Tigers a 7-2 setback that completed a doubleheader sweep and secured a Southeastern Conference series win for AU Friday evening at Plainsman Park.

Auburn (32-19-1, 16-13 SEC) homered three times and scored in four of the first six innings to seize control of the contest. Left-hander Konnor Copeland (4-1) was equally as dominant on the mound for the Tigers, limiting Mizzou to three hits over the first 5 1/3 innings.

In the first two games of the series Friday, Auburn pitchers combined to hold Mizzou to two runs on nine hits.

The story of the game for Mizzou (30-22, 10-19 SEC) was Mann’s climb to the top of the Tigers’ home run list, however. On an 0-2 pitch in the top of the sixth inning, the St. Louis product drilled a two-run homer to center to hand Mizzou its only offense of the day.

Mann’s 21st home run of the season elevated the fifth-year senior into a tie with Jacob Priday for Mizzou’s all-time homer mark.

That blast continued a May power surge for Mann, who has hit nine homers in nine contests this month. It also moved him into a tie for the No. 2 position on the Tigers’ single-season home run chart.

Despite Mann’s historical night, Mizzou struggled to generate offensive momentum for the second consecutive game against Auburn. Following AU’s 4-0, three-hit shutout in Friday’s opening game, Copeland stymied the Tigers over the first half of game two, permitting just three MU hits.

In contrast, Auburn’s offense clicked early against Mizzou starter Javyn Pimental (1-1), scoring a run in the first and two more in the fourth to build a 3-0 lead. AU powered up to homer in three consecutive innings, getting long balls from Cooper McMurray in the fourth and Cole Foster in the fifth to stretch their advantage to four runs.

After Mann’s momentarily pulled the Tigers to within 4-2, Bryson Ware went deep in the sixth to ignite a three-run rally that ultimately negated Mann’s homer.

Zach Crotchfelt and Will Cannon combined to finish the job on the mound for Auburn. The duo allowed just two Tiger baserunners on one hit over the final 3.0 innings.

Trevor Austin added a 2-for-3 effort for Mizzou to complement Mann’s performance. On the mound, the trio of Rorik Maltrud, Jacob Hasty and Daniel Wissler combined to log 3.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit over the final three frames.
 
TIGER NOTEBOOK

• Missouri dropped to 11-9 all-time versus Auburn and 7-5 against the Tigers on their home field
• Mizzou was shut out in game one of Friday’s twin bill, marking the first time the Tigers have failed to score a run since April 7 vs. Vanderbilt
• With its game two loss, Mizzou dropped its first-ever road series in four trips to Auburn; MU had claimed series wins in 2012, 2014 and 2018 in its three previous visits to Auburn
• Mann tied Dave Silvestri for the No. 2 spot on the Tigers’ single-season homer list with his 21st of the season; Ryan Fry sits in the top spot on the list with 27 homers (1998)
• Mizzou enters the final day of the regular season tied with Georgia for the No. 11/12 seeds in next week’s SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.; the Tigers magic number to clinch a spot in the field is one win or one Georgia loss on Saturday

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Auburn conclude their series—and the 2023 regular season—Saturday (May 20) with a 1 p.m. contest.

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