AUBURN – A combined seven RBI performance from Eric Guevara and Cooper Weiss allowed Auburn to get back in the win column.
The Auburn Tigers beat the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets 12-8 in the first of two matchups between the teams this season at Plainsman Park on Tuesday night.
"It's great, I've been waiting," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "I didn't know what to do after the last out there, it'd been a minute. Every time we take the field we want to have success for these guys. I know things will turn and I know baseball will get back to normal."
The Tigers scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning. Despite Georgia Tech getting back in the game, Auburn never gave up the lead.
Guevara went 1-4 but had three RBI after hitting a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning and getting walked to force in a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Guevara suffered an injury in the fall and was unsure if he would be able to play this season. Auburn's third baseman talked about his recovery process and what it means for him to be able to play.
"It was a surprise," Guevara said. "In the fall, I thought 'I'll be back next fall after the season.' But then when I got back in the spring, to check in with the doctor and he said it was looking like I might be able to get some DH appearances halfway through the year. Then I had another checkup with him and he said it was looking great."
Weiss went 2-4 with four RBI and hit two home runs. Auburn's shortstop also added a stolen base, and four put-outs.
Auburn did not have its best night on the mound. Joseph Gonzalez made his first start in two weeks and allowed five runs off of six hits and walked two batters.
The Tigers' bullpen came up big late in the game and held Georgia Tech off the board in the last three innings.
Drew Nelson, Cameron Keshock and Parker Carlson allowed a combined two hits, one from Nelson and the other from Carlson, in the final three innings.
Auburn is now 19-17 on the season and 2-13 in SEC play.
The Tigers return to action this weekend when they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. Game one is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, game two is set for 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, and the series finale is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Games one and three will be broadcast on SEC Network+, and game two will be broadcast on SEC Network. The Auburn Sports Network broadcast for each game can be heard locally on Wings 94.3 FM or streamed 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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