AUBURN, Ala. – In a battle of solid pitching, SEC foe Auburn used 5.0 shutout innings from starter Tanner Burns to outduel Longwood, 3-0, Sunday at Plainsman Park.
 
The Lancer bullpen – led by Tyler Morgan, Zach Potojecki, and Eric Harp – combined for 3.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen to slow down a red-hot Auburn offense in the loss.
 
Michael Catlin (0-1) started the game for the Lancers, holding Auburn to three runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work with a pair of strikeouts.
 
"Catlin set the tone by challenging hitters and allowing us to settle in," Mau said. "I am proud of the way our team responded after yesterday's loss," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "This was our first character check and we came out fighting, which is great to see."
 
Burns (1-0) and the bullpen for Auburn (3-0) combined to limit the offense for Longwood (0-3), earning a sweep Sunday at Plainsman Park.
 
"Runs were tough to come by again today," Mau said. "Our biggest opportunity came in the fifth, but we were unable to cash in."
 
In the fifth Justin Mitchell, Jack Schnell, and Jawan McAllister each singled in succession to load the bases with no outs, but a fielder's choice and a pair of fly outs ended the Longwood fifth.
 
Though Auburn pitching stymied most of the Lancer hitting, McAllister, a junior outfielder, put together a two-hit game, going 2-for-3. Schnell, a freshman, also reached safely twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk.
 
"McAllister had a good day at the plate and it was great to see Schnell grab his first collegiate hit," Mau said.
 
Conor Davis led the offense for Auburn, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
 
The game was scoreless through the first two innings before Auburn broke through in the second inning. Will Holland doubled to start the frame, followed by a walk drawn by Edouard Julien to give the Tigers a pair of baserunners with no outs. Two batters later Jay Estes looked to give Auburn the lead with a single through the left side, but McAllister threw out Holland at the plate. Davis then doubled to right, bringing in both runners.
 
Longwood had to work out of a jam in the field in the fifth inning. After Julien walked and Luke Jarvis was hit by pitch, Estes singled to load the bases. Morgan then entered the game for Longwood out of the bullpen, striking out the first man he faced, hitting the next batter to force in a run, and then inducing a ground out to hold Auburn to one run in the frame.
 
"Morgan was really good today," Mau said. "He came in a very tight situation and made some big pitches to keep us in it. Potojecki and Harp threw well and put up zeroes to give us a shot."
 
In the seventh inning the Lancers threatened again, getting a man into scoring position. With one out Schnell walked. After McAllister reached on a fielder's choice, Nathan Iskowitz singled to center, moving McAllister up to second base, but a strikeout ended the Lancer rally.
 
"This series was a great test for us," Mau said. "Auburn has the best starting pitching we will face all year. Every guy was 94 to 96 miles per hour with plus-offspeed stuff and command. Even though it wasn't the result we wanted, playing a team of this caliber on the road will definitely prepare us for the schedule ahead."
 
The Lancers open the home schedule in Farmville, Va., Friday against Niagara. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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