Auburn Morning Rush: Soccer falls to Alabama, Baseball to play Alabama for exhibition
We have nearly made it to the weekend and there is no better way to start your Friday than with the Auburn Morning Rush.
Today’s edition starts with the soccer program, the Tigers fell to Alabama 1-0 Thursday night at the Auburn Sports Complex.
The baseball team is set to close their fall exhibition slate Friday at Plainsman Park against the Crimson Tide. The game will also benefit the Beat Bama Food Drive.
The men’s tennis program revealed its 2023 schedule for the season and some great teams will be coming to the Plains. They will have 14 matches at home and will also host the SEC Champions to close the season.
Finally, the swim and dive program traveled to Baton Rouge and took care of LSU, sweeping the matches 2-0.
Soccer losses to Alabama 1-0
Grayson Belanger/AU Athletics
Auburn played the top-ranked Crimson Tide close but gave up the only goal of the match in the 87th minute.
“We played great,” head coach Karen Hoppa said. “They left everything they had on the field. We were just missing that same piece we’ve been missing all year — we just couldn’t finish. We had plenty of chances, quality chances, and we couldn’t finish. Unfortunately, we gave up that goal late, but a tie wouldn’t have helped us. We had to win.”
Auburn (6-6-6, 2-6-2 SEC) did not make the SEC Tournament for the first time since the 2000 season and must wait on the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Auburn allowed just 0.72 goals against average for the year, the second-best mark in school history.
Baseball to take on Alabama in final exhibition game
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Baseball is ending its fall exhibition with a great matchup, hosting Alabama Friday night.
The game is free to attend and will benefit the Beat Bama Food Drive and fans are invited to bring non-perishable food to donate. It is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CT. The concession stand behind home plate will be open and there will be other food stands open.
Prior to the game members of the 2022 College World Series team will return to Plainsman Park and be recognized before the first pitch.
Men's tennis announces spring schedule
Shanna Lockwood/AU Athletics
Auburn men’s tennis having 14 home matches and hosting the SEC champions highlight the 2023 schedule. A tough out-of-conference schedule will also provide the Tigers with a test prior to SEC play.
“I am very pleased with how we planned out the spring 2023 schedule,” head coach Bobby Reynolds said. “We will get the opportunity to compete against eight or nine NCAA tournament-level teams before starting our SEC schedule. We are looking to build off the success of last year, and this schedule allows us to be in a great position to do that come the end of April.”
Auburn opens the season on Jan. 15, with a doubleheader against Michigan State and Alabama State at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. They will open SEC play against Tennessee on March 2.
Date | Opponent | Time |
Jan. 15 | Michigan State Alabama State | Noon 5 p.m. |
Jan. 19 | Samford | NA |
Jan. 27 | at Wake Forest (ITA Kickoff) | 5 p.m. |
Jan. 28 | at Duke/ MTSU (ITA Kickoff) | NA |
Feb. 5 | Georgia Tech College of Charleston | Noon 5 p.m. |
Feb. 10 | at Old Dominion | NA |
Feb. 12 | Wisconsin | Noon |
Feb. 24 | at Blue-Gray Classic | NA |
Feb. 25 | at Blue-Gray Classic | NA |
March 2 | Tennessee | 3 p.m. |
March 4 | Georgia | 1 p.m. |
March 9 | at Mississippi State | NA |
March 12 | at Tulane | NA |
March 16 | Kentucky | 3 p.m. |
March 18 | Ole Miss Alabama State | 1 p.m. 5 p.m. |
March 24 | at South Carolina | NA |
March 26 | at Florida | NA |
April 2 | Vanderbilt Alabama A&M | Noon 5 p.m. |
April 7 | Arkansas | 3 p.m. |
April 9 | at Alabama | NA |
April 14 | at LSU | NA |
April 16 | at Texas A&M | NA |
April 19-23 | SEC Championships (Auburn) | NA |
May 5-6 | NCAA Regionals (campus sites) | NA |
May 13 | NCAA Super Regionals (campus sites) | NA |
May 17-27 | NCAA Championships (Orlando) | NA |
Swim and Dive sweeps LSU
Grayson Belanger/AU Athletics
Swim and Dive left no doubt about who the top Tigers are in the SEC. Both the men and women took down LSU Thursday in Baton Rouge, with the men winning 208-92 and the women winning 179-121.
“A good day of racing,” head coach RyanWochomurka said. “It is always challenging to go on the road in the SEC. We met the challenge and had great energy throughout the meet. It was great having an incredible turnout of parents, alumni and fans in the stands. War Eagle!”
Ryan Kinnane named Co-Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Beau Brune
Ryan Kinnane has been named the Co-SEC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league announced.
The junior has a 3.92 GPA and is pursuing a degree in professional flight. He finished second at the Live in Lou Classic where he finished the 8k course in 23:21.6. He has also been named to the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll, and was a 2021 USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete.
