AUBURN – Explosive performances at the plate from Ike Irish and Cooper McMurray helped Auburn get going over an in-state opponent during a rainy night on the Plains.
The No. 21 Auburn Tigers picked up a 13-3 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks tonight in the friendly confines of Plainsman Park.
"Good back-to-back games with some big innings," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "(Cooper) McMurray's gotten going a little bit over the last two games. I thought he really won the ball game the other day, and then that (McMurray's grand slam) was a big blow in this ballgame tonight."
Jacksonville State's Caleb Johnson hit a two-run home run over the center field wall in the top of the first inning. A 37-minute rain delay would go into effect two pitches later.
Christian Herberholz got the start for the Tigers for the third time this season. He stayed in the game through the delay and allowed only three runs off five hits in four innings of work. Additionally, he struck out seven batters while walking only one.
Irish hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the first inning to put Auburn on the board. A similar home run from Chris Stanfield in the bottom of the fourth inning started a seven-run rally that put the Tigers in control. One inning later, McMurray hit a grand slam to the same spot.
Irish went 2-4 with three RBI. Mason Maners was also responsible for one of the Tigers' home runs.
Eric Guevara made his first appearance of the season after dealing with an injury. Maners talked about what that meant for the team.
"That guy works harder than anybody I've ever seen," Maners said. "He was putting in that work before he got injured and ever since he got injured. But from the day he got injured, he's been working his tail off every day to get back on the field."
Auburn is now 16-8 on the season and 1-5 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action on Thursday night when they begin a road series with the Texas A&M Aggies. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on Thursday and Friday, then 7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
"We've done a great job of putting together a schedule that has prepared us for moments like this," Auburn pitcher Tanner Bauman said on the Tigers being battle-tested. "We've had the chance to go to Vanderbilt and go to Jacksonville and play some really good teams."
The television broadcasts for games one and two can be found on SEC Network+ and then SEC Network for game three. The Auburn Sports Network broadcast for each game can be heard anywhere on the Auburn Athletics app.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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