No. 7 Auburn baseball faced a deficit for much of the night against West Georgia, but Bub Terrell saved the day for the Tigers in the final frame with a two-out backside single to score Ethin Bingaman for a 4-3 triumph over the Wolves.
Facing a 3-1 deficit in the home half of the eighth after four consecutive scoreless innings, Auburn cut into West Georgia’s lead as Brandon McCraine scored from second and his brother, Brandon, who entered to pinch hit for Cade Bleyeu, blasted a single off the War Eagle Wall in left but was thrown out at second in hopes of an extra base hit.
Ryan Hetzler entered in the ninth to record the win and held the Wolves scoreless to set up the Tigers’ comeback bid in the bottom half.
Chase Fralick drew a walk to lead off the inning, and Ty Thompson relieved him as a runner, advancing to second on an Eric Guevara groundout. Ethan Bingaman singled through the right side and scored Thompson before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
That’s when Terrell blooped an opposite-field single with two strikes to score Bingaman from second, giving the Tigers their fourth straight win and 13th straight over the Wolves.
Auburn’s bats were quiet for much of the night, however. After exploding for 23 runs on 35 hits in three games over the weekend in Arlington, the Tigers left 10 runners stranded and were 4-for-19 with runners on base. Conversely, West Georgia recorded all three of its runs with two outs – both longballs – as it was 6-of-15 with multiple outs on the night.
A two-run third frame gave the Wolves an early edge after Andon Lewis blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left.
Auburn responded in the bottom half with a run of its own as Bristol Carter was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, advancing home on an errant throw.
A solo shot off the bat of Anthony Cole gave West Georgia a two-run cushion before the Tigers scored three of their four runs over the final two frames.
Andreas Alvares got his second nod of the season on the bump, working five and two-thirds innings with seven strikeouts, giving up two runs on five hits.
Alvarez gave way to Drew Whalen, who worked two and one-third innings, giving up one run on four hits before Hetlzer tossed a scoreless ninth.
Fralick, Bingaman and Brandon McCraine recorded six of the Tigers’ nine baseknocks with two hits apiece.
Auburn will remain at Plainsman Park for a weekend series against Nebraska beginning on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. on SECN+.
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