Tenth-ranked Auburn baseball was no match for a red-hot top-25 Jacksonville State squad as the Gamecocks struck with three runs in the first en route to a 15-4 victory in eight innings on Tuesday at Plainsman Park.
The Gamecocks barreled 17 hits and hit .522 with runners on, scoring in six of eight plate appearances. It was the second-most hits JSU has recorded this season.
Auburn tallied nine hits but plated just four runs with 14 strikeouts on the night. In the field, the Tigers committed four errors.
The loss ends a streak of four consecutive midweek wins at home.
JSU set the tone by plating three runs in the opening frame. Jaxon Pate led off with an infield single on a bunt back to the pitcher – he advanced to second on an errant throw – before Caleb Johnson and Cooper Blauser did the same.
Brady Thomas, the four-hole hitter, blasted a two-run shot over the wall in right to give the Gamecocks a three-run cushion out of the gates.
JSU added two more runs in each of the third and fifth frames; meanwhile, Auburn struck out eight times in the first five plate appearances.
The Tigers threatened in the third with a pair of runners in scoring position, but left them stranded after an inning-ending strikeout.
Facing the run-rule threat after six JSU plate appearances, Auburn struck for four runs in its half of the sixth. A trio of singles gave the Tigers juiced bases with no outs, and Logan Gregorio barreled the fourth of the frame to left center, plating a run.
A pair of flyouts to right and left field, respectively, scored two more for the Tigers before Bristol Carter drove in Gregorio with a double off the top of the War Eagle Wall in left.
The Tigers recorded three more hits after the four-run sixth, but struck out as many times, leaving a total of 11 baserunners stranded on the night.
JSU added eight more runs on seven hits across the final three frames.
Auburn tossed a parade of arms (10), with starter Christian Chatteron falling to 2-2 on the season. In two-thirds of an inning thrown, LJ Cormier was the only Tigers pitcher who did not relinquish a hit.
The staff struck out just three Gamecocks on the night and gave up five extra-base hits with five longballs.
Auburn will host Kentucky for a weekend series beginning on Friday, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. on SECN+.
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