Ward helps Auburn beat Tennessee 5-3

HOOVER, Ala. — Judd Ward bunted home the go-ahead run and hit a two-run homer Tuesday as No. 8 seed Auburn defeated No. 9 seed Tennessee 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Auburn (33-23) faces No. 1 seed Vanderbilt (45-10) today in the first day of doubleelimination competition.

Tennessee (38-19) was eliminated. The Volunteers haven't won an SEC Tournament game since 2007.

Ward's bunt hit in the fifth inning scored Edouard Julien. Ward's two-run blast in the seventh extended Auburn's lead to 5-2.

Tennessee cut the margin to 5-3 on Zach Daniels' ninth-inning homer and had the tying run at the plate with one out when Christian Scott belted a shot that was caught at the right-field warning track. Cody Greenhill then struck out Jay Charleston to earn his 10th save.

Auburn's Bailey Horn (3-0) allowed one hit and one run in four innings of relief. Tennessee's Garrett Stallings (8-4) yielded three runs in five innings.

Ole Miss 2, Missouri 1

HOOVER, Ala. — Will Ethridge allowed one run in seven innings and Ole Miss beat Missouri in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

The defending champion Rebels (34-23) face No. 2 seed Arkansas in the second round today, when the tournament moves to double elimination. The Tigers (34-22-1) were eliminated after managing seven hits and striking out 10 times.

Ethridge (6-6) allowed all seven hits but struck out six and didn't issue a walk.

Tyler Myers struck out the side in the eighth for Ole Miss and Ryan Olenek pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. Olenek also started in center field and had two hits, then struck out Thomas Broyles looking to strand a runner on second and end the game.

Austin James' RBI double in the second gave Missouri a 1-0 lead. Reliever Jacob Cantleberry (4-5) allowed both runs.

Texas A&M 8, Florida 7,

HOOVER, Ala. — Jonathan Ducoff delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th and also had a three-run homer to lift Texas A&M to an victory over Florida in the opening game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Cam Blake drew a one-out walk for the Aggies (37-19-1) and advanced to second on a grounder to set up the winning hit.

Texas A&M will face No. 3 seed Georgia today, when the format switches to double elimination.

Ducoff and Mikey Hoehner both homered with two outs in the eight for Texas A&M.

The Gators (33-24) were eliminated from the tournament after rallying with two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. Will Dalton and Austin Langworthy had RBI triples in those innings.

Kasey Kalich (2-1) earned the win after pitching the final two innings for the Aggies, including a scoreless 10th. Nolan Crisp (4-4) took the loss.