Auburn Loses Series to Texas After Shutout Defeat in Game 3

Tigers' bats go cold as Longhorns' pitching staff dominates in series finale

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:26pm

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No. 4 Auburn lost 5-0 to No. 2 Texas on Sunday, dropping the series 2-1 after splitting the first two games. Texas starter Dylan Volantis pitched four shutout innings, and the Longhorns' bullpen held the Tigers in check the rest of the way as Auburn's offense was stifled.

Why it matters

This series loss is a setback for Auburn, which was looking to make a statement against another top-five opponent. The Tigers' inability to solve Texas' pitching staff raises questions about their readiness to compete with the nation's elite teams as they continue SEC play.

The details

Auburn managed just four hits in the game, as Texas' pitching staff dominated the Tigers' lineup. Volantis struck out four batters in his four innings of work, and the Longhorns' bullpen kept Auburn off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Auburn starter Alex Petrovic struggled, allowing four earned runs in three and two-thirds innings, but the Tigers' young relievers impressed by limiting the damage after he exited.

  • The series took place over the weekend of March 22, 2026.
  • Game 3, the series finale, was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Butch Thompson

The head coach of the Auburn Tigers baseball team.

Dylan Volantis

The starting pitcher for the Texas Longhorns, who pitched four shutout innings in the series finale.

Alex Petrovic

The starting pitcher for the Auburn Tigers, who allowed four earned runs in three and two-thirds innings.

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What they’re saying

“It felt like I was sitting in a dentist chair today for three plus hours. They just systematically beat us.”

— Butch Thompson, Auburn Head Coach

“I give credit to Texas. They showed us that we've got some work to do, and we've got to be better the next time we face a very, very, very talented group of arms.”

— Butch Thompson, Auburn Head Coach

“It feels like we got to see some guys handle their first time, and it wasn't on a on a Tuesday or anything. It was right in the middle of an SEC series. Those guys held up and were competitive, so I think that's very positive.”

— Butch Thompson, Auburn Head Coach

What’s next

Auburn will look to bounce back on Tuesday with a matchup against South Alabama in Montgomery before traveling to Tuscaloosa next weekend to face Alabama in SEC play.

The takeaway

This series loss is a wake-up call for Auburn, which must find a way to solve elite pitching staffs if it hopes to compete with the nation's top teams. The Tigers' young relievers showed promise, but the offense's inability to generate runs against Texas is a concern that will need to be addressed.