The Auburn Tigers managed to pick up their first series win of conference play, taking two of three games on the road against the Missouri Tigers this weekend.
Auburn dropped the first game 12-11 before picking up a 12-2 win in the second and a 9-7 win in the third.
“It is (nice), especially to bounce back after a tough game Friday night,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said of the series victory. “A couple of challenges that we have are still there, but we played enough offense all weekend.”
The series opener ended disappointingly for Auburn. The road Tigers put together a six-run rally in the top of the seventh inning but it ended up not mattering.
Tanner Bauman got the start for Auburn but allowed three runs off four hits in four innings. Four relief pitchers got in the game for Auburn, Parker Carlson ended up with the loss after giving up four runs in one inning.
Ike Irish led Auburn at the plate, going 3-5 with four RBI and scoring two runs.
“I thought the first five innings of our offense reminded me of earlier in the season when we were just playing great offense,” Thompson said. “Then the big inning came, the big six-spot came in the seventh. We felt really good and still had our best guys on a Friday night, but it’s just been one of those challenges in conference play where the things that usually don’t happen have happened.”
Auburn came out with a chip on its shoulder in the second game and picked up a run-rule victory in eight innings.
“I thought we’ve played great offense these first two games of the series,” Thompson said. “It looks like some guys are getting their bats through the zone a little bit better. They did a really good job.”
Rallies in the top of the sixth and seventh innings pathed the way for Auburn's dominant win.
Chase Allsup got the start and pitched five innings, allowing one run off four hits and striking nine batters out. Carson Myers earned the save after a three-inning effort in which he allowed one run off two hits and struck four batters out.
“Just the preparation in the bullpen felt right, and going out there and landing (my offspeed pitches) in the first inning had a really big part in what was going on today,” Allsup said.
Caden Green led Auburn at the plate, going 4-5 with four RBI.
“Once the hits start rolling, everything starts to look like a beach ball for everybody, and who doesn’t want that?” Green said.
Auburn got off to an early start at the plate in the series finale but allowed Missouri to make things interesting at the end.
Christian Herberholz got the start for Auburn and earned the win in a five-inning effort in which he allowed no runs off four hits and struck four batters out.
Deric Fabian led Auburn at the plate, going 3-4 with two RBI.
Auburn is 25-25 on the season and 5-21 in SEC play.
Auburn returns to action on Wednesday night to take on the Samford Bulldogs at the Hoover Met at 6 p.m. CT.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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