Auburn dropped their opening round NCAA tournament game to Houston 2-1 in the Austin Regional. Auburn reliever Angel Bunner was called for an illegal pitch in the seventh inning, forcing home Houston's go-ahead run.

Auburn (33-22) will play the loser of Texas-Northwestern in an elimination game Saturday at 3 p.m. The winner of that game will play again at 6 p.m.

"This was a tough game," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said in a release. "We did a good job putting runners on but we just couldn't get that one hit to drop."

Houston scored a run in the fourth when Auburn starter Jenee Loree threw a wild pitch that allowed a runner to score from third.

In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Auburn's Branndi Melero slugged a home run to left-center. It was Melero's third home run of the season and first since Feb. 26.

But Auburn quickly gave the lead back to Houston in the next inning when Bunner allowed a walk, single and was called for two illegal pitches.