Fueled by a strong performance from Alex Petrovic on the mound and 11 hits at the plate, No. 22 Auburn toppled UT Martin 6-1 at Toyota Field on Tuesday.
In his second start of the season, Petrovic retired the side in five straight innings and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts as he recorded the win for the Tigers. In 5.1 innings of work, he gave up just one hit while pounding the zone for 41 total strikes in 61 total pitches thrown.
The Tigers scored multiple runs in the fifth and sixth innings and recorded a hit in all but the seventh and eighth innings as the Skyhawks worked through five pitchers.
With Eric Snow touching plate first, the Tigers’ first run came on a sacrifice fly in the third. Auburn rallied for two runs in the fifth on a two-run shot from Snow, also driving in Eric Guevara. In the sixth, Auburn broke the game open with a three-run inning on a pair of RBI-singles from Snow and Cooper McMurray to score Lucas Steele and Guevara, respectively.
With two runners in scoring position, a flyout to left center field from Jalen Fithian scored Tommy Kock for the Skyhawks lone run in the sixth.
John Armstrong entered on the heels of Petrovic and went two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and no hits. Andreas Alvarez worked two innings, allowing two hits and no runs and Ryan Hetzler went the final inning retiring the side in order. The Tigers’ pitching staff allowed just three hits and recorded 10 strikeouts combined.
Auburn will begin SEC play this weekend with No. 18 Vanderbilt making the trek down south to Plainsman Park for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m.
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