AUBURN – No. 11 Auburn was just 2-for-22 with runners on base and 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving a season-high 15 runners stranded on the night but used strong performances on the mound to complete the season sweep of No. 21 Georgia Tech with a 1-0 win on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
For the first five frames, Auburn’s leadoff man reached base. The Tigers saw at least two runners reach base each inning in the first six frames.
“You leave 15 guys on and it's like we're getting on, we're getting over, and eventually we're going to get them in. That’s a lot of people getting on base for eight times at the plate. We didn't have to walk up there for the ninth. So you know, it's either you're feeding a positive dog or the negative dog,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “There's no doubt I want something else to come, or fall, or a big hit just to take some of that off. But that's what you want is to get guys on and keep putting them in position and it'll come.”
The Tigers’ pitching staff made up of Christian Chatterton, John Armstrong, Carson Myers and Cam Tilly held a Yellow Jacket squad, which ranked sixth in the country with a .327 entering the night, to just two hits and worked a combined 15 strikeouts. Chatterton – who was coming off a start a week ago in which he retired the first 18 batters he faced and recorded eight strikeouts – went for four efficient innings in his third midweek start, finishing his night with six strikeouts while not giving up a hit. Armstrong pitched two innings in relief, giving up two hits and recording three strikeouts with Myers and Tilly combining for three hitless frames to close it out.
Armstrong recorded his second win of the season to improve to 2-1 while Tilly earned his first save of the year.
“I think every single guy on this team would agree that every time they go out there, they're the best pitcher on the field and in the nation. Like, they had the best stuff and everybody around him knows and has a lot of faith that that guy is going to go out there and do his best,” Myers said of the Tigers’ pitching staff.
The Tigers’ lone run of the night was plated due to a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. Three-straight walks loaded the bases for the Tigers and Cooper McMurray drew a two-out walk to score Lucas Steele.
At the plate, Chris Rembert led the Tigers with two hits in the leadoff spot while Ike Irish, Chase Fralick and Eric Guevara each recorded one hit apiece.
“We’re at the stage where you're trying to stay in the process. You keep working and if it's not happening for you in one category, then you keep chopping away and keep working, because you know some things that will return,” Thompson said.
The Tigers are back in action this weekend as they host Mississippi State for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday and Saturday are set for 6 p.m. with Sunday’s finale set for 2 p.m. All three will be broadcasted on SECN+.
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