SEC baseball Saturday recap: Auburn beats Tennessee, Missouri's offensive outburst, Aggies win series at Vandy, more

Here's what happened in an offensive-heavy Saturday in SEC baseball

Photo courtesy of Missouri athletics

Pierce's homer helps Auburn even series at Tennessee

Bobby Peirce hit a three-run homer off Tennessee closer Redmond Walsh with two outs in the ninth, as Auburn (31-13, 12-8 Southeastern Conference) won in Knoxville by an 8-6 score. 

The Vols (39-4, 18-2) had just walked Sonny DiChiara for the second time (DiChiara had homered earlier in the night) before Pierce's blast cleared the bleachers in left. Tennessee's Cortland Lawson homered to center in the ninth and the Vols later brought the tying run to the plate, but Conner Kopeland instead finished his second inning without further trouble to get the win.

Tennessee starter Blade Tidwell lasted just 2 2/3 innings and uncharacteristically struggled with control (four walks) before he was removed after allowing a run.

Aggies' Targac helps A&M claim series at Vanderbilt

Second baseman Ryan Targac hit two monster home runs and knocked in six as Texas A&M clobbered Vanderbilt, 12-4, in Nashville on Saturday. Catcher Troy Claunch added four hits and four RBIs for the Aggies (27-15, 12-9). 

Vanderbilt (29-13, 10-11) got a home run from Calvin Hewett, but the Commodores otherwise struggled to do much against lefty Joseph Menefee, who allowed two hits and one run in relief of starter Brad Rudis, who lasted an inning and allowed three runs.

Vanderbilt starter Bryce Cunningham lasted just 1 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs, all earned. 

Missouri pounds Mississippi State to even series

Missouri rapped out 17 hits and scored 19 runs in the first six innings of a 19-8 demolition of Mississippi State in Columbia.

Russ Lovich had three hits--two were home runs--and drove in four. Fox Leum and Luke Mann also homered for the Tigers (23-17, 6-14). 

Missouri scored nine runs in four innings against Preston Johnson, who struck out 10 but allowed all three homers, plus three doubles. Mississippi State's defense registered just three outs with him in the game. Cam Tullar then allowed seven runs in an inning. 

RJ Yeager homered and tied for the team lead with two hits for Mississippi State (25-19, 9-11).

Harber's homers push Georgia past LSU

Georgia (30-13, 12-8) survived an off day from Jonathan Cannon thanks to its 17 hits--which included two home runs from Levi Harber--in a 12-7 win over LSU (28-14, 11-9) in Baton Rouge.

The Bulldogs clung to an 8-7 lead in the ninth with one out and nobody on. But Cory Acton and Connor Tate homered off Eric Reyzelman, and after Garrett Edwards walked Corey Collins, Harber hit his second blast of the day. 

Cannon allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings, but improved to 8-1 anyway as Jack Gowen threw three scoreless innings for his ninth save. 

Josh Pearson, Josh Stevenson and Jacob Berry homered for LSU; Berry led the team with three RBIs. The Tigers used seven pitchers and six allowed at least one run. 

Smith pitches Arkansas past Rebels

Freshman Hagen Smith rebounded from last week's tough outing to fire six innings of two-run, eight-strikeout baseball in Arkansas' 6-3 win over Ole Miss. Brady Slavens, Braylen Webb and Kendall Diggs each had home runs for Arkansas (33-10, 13-7), which otherwise had four singles among its seven hits.

Ole Miss (24-18, 7-13) starter Hunter Elliott allowed three runs in six innings. The Rebels had bombs from Tim Elko and TJ McCants. 

Gator pitching comes through on Saturday

Florida's Brandon Neely, Tyler Nesbitt, Blake Purnell and Nick Ficoratta combined to seven-hit Kentucky in a 9-1 win in Gainesville on Saturday. 

Neely started and threw four scoreless innings to pick up a win. He didn't allow a hit though he hit two batters and walked one. Gator pitchers struck out 12 and walked three.

Florida's Jac Caglianone and Josh Rivera both homered while BT Riopelle led the Gators with three hits and three RBIs. 

Florida (25-17, 8-12) jumped out to a 7-0 lead against Zack Lee (1 2/3 innings, seven runs, six earned). Daniel Harris IV led the Wildcats (23-20, 6-14) with three hits. 

South Carolina sweeps Alabama

Alabama (25-20, 9-12) saw its postseason hopes take a hit with an 11-5 loss at South Carolina on Saturday as the Gamecocks' Andrew Eyster (three hits, one home run, six RBIs) served as a one-man wrecking crew.

Eyster drove in runs in the first, third, fourth and seventh. Kevin Madden and Braylen Wimmer also had three hits for the Gamecocks (22-20, 9-12). 

Will Sanders allowed five runs in seven innings to get a win. Alabama's Grayson HItt gave up five runs in two innings. 

Catcher Dominic Tamez blasted a three-run homer for Alabama, which has lost its last three series.