For only the third time this season the Rebels dropped a game when scoring first as Ole Miss fell to Auburn 6-3 at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Thursday night.

The Rebels (23-16, 8-8 SEC) held a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning, but Auburn pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead and added two more runs in the eighth inning.

Sophomore outfielder Tanner Mathis barely extended his hit streak to 22 straight games, going 1-for-4.

Brett Huber (2-1) suffered the loss in relief. He allowed three runs on four hits in 11⁄3 innings of work. Crouse, who drew his 10th start of the season, worked six innings and left the game with the Rebels on top 3-2. It is the eighth time this season that Crouse has allowed two runs or less in a start.

Ethan Wallen (4-3) picked up the relief win for the Tigers, working two innings and allowing one run on three hits. Dillon Ortman picked up his third save of the year as he worked the ninth with two strikeouts.

“It was a tough night,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “We competed hard and had a chance to win. You have to tip your hat to Auburn.”

Ole Miss got on the board first, using a two-out double from Matt Tracy to drive in two runs. Blake Newalu and Matt Smith both drew walks to get on base before the Tracy hit to right center drove both men in to give the Rebels the early 2-0 lead.

Auburn (21-16, 8-8 SEC) got a run back in the second when Dan Gamache hit a solo shot to right field that cut the lead to 2-1 in favor of the Rebels.

The Tigers tied things in the third, when Bobby Andrews came up with a single through the right side to score Creede Simpson. Simpson doubled off the wall in left before moving to third on a groundout to short. He scored a batter later on an Andrews single.