T1 | 0-0@DoxakisJohn fires in the first pitch and we are underway against Auburn, semifinal spot on the line.
?: @SECNetwork | https://t.co/Vu0xGz9e7C #12thMan #FamilyF1rst pic.twitter.com/i8TfuicnvW
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) May 25, 2018
Texas A&M held on Thursday night for a 4-2 victory over the Auburn Tigers to remain undefeated at the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Tigers scored once in the ninth against A&M closer Nolan Hoffman to pull within the eventual final score.
But with two runners on base, Hoffman got Luke Jarvis on a ground ball to end the game.
A&M starter John Doxakis (7-5) outdueled Auburn star Casey Mize (9-5) for the victory.
Doxakis, a lefty, carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before yielding a couple of hits and a run.
Armed with a big curve ball, he struck out 10 and walked none.
Mize, projected as a possible No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft next month, also worked into the eighth.
But he left the game after giving up four runs on eight hits.
Hoffman, a side-winding, righthander, pitched the final 1 and 2/3 and earned his 14th save.
Texas A&M is now 3-0 in Hoover with victories over Vanderbilt (3-1), Georgia (7-0) and Auburn in the past three days.
In an interview with the SEC Network, Doxakis shrugged off the feeling of coming so close and then falling short of the no hitter.
“All good things come to an end,” he told the SEC Network. “Everybody wants to throw a no-hitter but you know how hard it is.”
With the win, A&M advances to the tournament semifinals. The Aggies will play Saturday against either Auburn or Ole Miss.
The Aggies won the SEC tournament in 2016, and coach Rob Childress likes his team’s competitiveness this time around.
“I’m just proud of the way we play when we come to Hoover, for the most part,” Childress “You know, there’s a ring and a trophy on the line, and everybody’s being competitive.
“I know there’s an (NCAA) regional next week, but to stay in the moment and try to play our best this week is awfully important.”
Records
Texas A&M 39-19
Auburn 39-20
SEC baseball tournament
Thursday’s scores
Ole Miss 5, Georgia 4 (10 innings)
LSU 6, South Carolina 4 (12 innings)
Texas A&M 4, Auburn 2
Friday’s schedule
Florida vs. Arkansas, 10 a.m. (winners bracket)
Ole Miss vs. Auburn, 3 p.m. (elimination)
LSU vs. Florida-Arkansas loser, to follow (elimination)
Saturday’s schedule
(Semifinals)
Texas A&M vs. Auburn or Ole Miss, 2 p.m.
TBD, to follow
.@awingate0 making it look easy in right:#FamilyF1rst #12thMan pic.twitter.com/LN3XVkGou2
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) May 25, 2018
(Texas A&M right fielder Allonte Wingate robs Auburn of extra bases and possibly a home run with a leaping catch at the wall in the third inning.)