After setting a program record for runs scored in an SEC series with 46 over the weekend, No. 6 Auburn kept its foot on the pedal as it cruised past Jacksonville State – completing the season sweep – in its final midweek game of the regular season at Plainsman Park by way of a 19-1 win over the Gamecocks.
Belting 11 home runs and finishing the weekend with an outstanding .451 batting average, the Tigers picked up right where they left off, recording a .471 team batting average with 16 hits on Tuesday. Every Auburn starter recorded at least one hit, with five Tigers turning in multi-hit performances. Bub Terrell led the way with three hits – all doubles – and five RBIs, as Cooper McMurray followed suit with a 2-for-2 performance with five RBIs and a home run.
“That offense is still clicking really good,” said Auburn head coach Butch Thompson. “They're kind of traveling in a pack. So they're linked up pretty good. You just want to squeeze every bit of the juice and whatever this run is offensively to keep it going.”
The Tigers scored a run in every inning but two in the seven-inning affair, highlighted by an 11-run fourth – their highest-scoring inning since 2023 against Georgia. They wasted no time as they put up five runs in the first frame on four hits, including a home run from McMurray. In the third, Chris Rembert homered for the 10th time this season to plate two runs before the 11-run outburst in the fourth on nine hits with five straight singles sandwiched in.
“I think it starts in the locker room and the vibes are high right now,” Terrell said. "We've been consistent these last few games and when the bats get hot it's hard to slow them down.”
On the bump for the Tigers, Andreas Alavarez held the Gamecocks scoreless in five innings of work, giving up just one hit to lead off the game and recording his second win of the season. After issuing a leadoff walk to start the second, Alvarez retired 12 straight batters, working three perfect innings from the third through the fifth.
“Forty-eight hours and we're back into another series. So, it's pretty important to come out here and be able to pitch to that small strike zone. And he was fighting it, but he worked through it and hopefully got some growth tonight,” Thompson said of Alvarez.
Parker Carlson entered on his heels in the sixth and held the Gamecocks hitless for one inning. Mason Koch threw the final inning, giving up one run on three hits
Auburn returns to action Thursday to open its final SEC series of the regular season against Ole Miss at Swayze Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
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