Keegan-Thompson
Auburn pitcher Keegan Thompson fires a pitch against Arkansas on Saturday, April 4, 2015 in at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. (Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics)
Auburn's third walk-off victory of the season was also its most unusual.
Auburn (19-12, 4-7 SEC) used back to back hit batters to walk off with a 3-2 victory Saturday against Arkansas at Plainsman Park.
Arkansas reliever Jacob Stone hit Cody Nulph on the first pitch of his at-bat to drive in the winning run with the bases loaded. Stone struggled after he was inserted with one out in the ninth. He threw seven pitches -- and allowed a runner to advance to second base on a wide throw on a pick-off attempt -- but none of his throws resulted in strikes.
In the end, it was a strange ending to what had shaped up to be a good pitching night for the teams.
"I've never been hit by a pitch and walked off at the same at-bat," Nulph said.
Stone hit Ben Craft with a pitch to load the bases after intentionally walking Kyler Deese.
Auburn ace Keegan Thompson struck out nine and scattered six hits in a season-best nine innings, the third complete game of his career.
"I hope we don't take Keegan for granted," Auburn coach Sunny Golloway said. "To have him in the Saturday slot is pretty special. That gives us a lot of confidence. I'm just really proud of all of our guys, not just Keegan. I thought all of our guys had really a gut-check performance."
The rubber game in the three-game series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn will try again for his 500th victory as the Razorbacks' coach.
Auburn never trailed in the game, but Arkansas (15-15, 4-7) fired back after falling behind in the second and sixth innings. Neither team could quite crack the aces on the mound, though the Razorbacks struggled more by going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and committing two errors.
Auburn grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth on Daniel Robert's groundout. Arkansas fired back with Chad Spanberger's game-tying double off the wall in right-center field. The Razorbacks left two runners in scoring position as Thompson worked out of another jam.
Arkansas starter Dominic Taccolini allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out three in seven innings.