The University of Alabama was back in action with the Auburn Tigers this weekend at Sewell Thomas Stadium and took the series from the Tigers with the 4-3 win from a walk off RBI double from Casey Hughston. Bama improves to 24-11 (10-5) for the season and is solely in first place in the SEC standings at the mid point of the season. Auburn falls to 21-16 overall, 6-9 in the SEC.
Auburn head coach Sonny Golloway made some drastic lineup changes, going with 7 true freshmen and his closer Terrance Dedrick to start the game versus Bama’s Jon Keller. Chance Vincent was in at first base for the Tide to replace an injured Austen Smith. Smith was hit by a pitch during last night’s game and had some discomfort today during batting practice. He will have X-Rays tomorrow but is currently listed as day to day.
The scoring started early in the bottom of the first after back to back singles from Georgie Salem and Mikey White to lead off the home half of the frame. Ben Moore laid down a great sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position before Wade Wass brought in a run on a ground out RBI to 3rd base. Casey Hughston then reached on a throwing error from Brett Binning allowing Georgie Salem to score to give Alabama the 2-0 lead heading to the top of the second.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the second after back to back singles from Connor Short and Brett Binning. A wild pitch advanced them into scoring position but both runners were left stranded after Anfernee Grier grounded out to end the threat.
Daniel Cucjen singled in the bottom of the second and got into scoring position with a stolen base on a called pitch out from Auburn. Georgie Salem sent an RBI single up the middle to score Cucjen, giving Alabama the 3-0 lead.
Back to back singles from J.J. Shaffer and Damon Haecker put 2 on base for Auburn in the top of the third. Damek Tomscha singled up the middle and Auburn sent Shaffer home but was thrown out at home from the cannon of Salem in the outfield. Keller issued a one out walk with the bases loaded to score a run for Auburn. Two back to back RBI singles from Binning and Short scored 2 more to tie the game at 3. The go ahead run tried to score on Binning’s single but another great throw from centerfielder Georgie Salem kept the run off of the board.
Auburn turned to right handed pitcher Trey Wingenter to replace Dedrick (2+ IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K) in the bottom of the third after Dedrick issued a 4 pitch lead off walk to Ben Moore. After 2 wild pitches and a throwing error charged to Haecker at shortstop put 2 in scoring position for the Tide, they strand 2 in the same frame with a full count strikeout from Chance Vincent.
Jon Keller pitched a shut down frame in the top half of the fourth to sit Auburn down in order after 2 ground outs and Keller’s 4th strikeout of the game. Mikey White drew a 4 pitch, 2 out walk and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball but was stranded at 2nd after Salem grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Another shut down inning for Keller in the Auburn half of the fifth and he recorded his fifth strikeout of the game. Singles from Wade Wass and Casey Hughston put 2 on base for the Tide in the bottom half of the inning but they couldn’t capitalize.
Jordan Ebert led off the 6th inning with a single but was erased as a base runner when he was caught stealing. The out on the stolen base attempt was big as Binning and Grier singled, possibly squandering a scoring opportunity and the go ahead run for the Tigers. The Tide tried to get a 2 out rally going in the bottom half of the sixth after 2 consecutive strikeouts to start the frame. White and Salem both singled to put runners at the corners but a ground out to first base ended that threat.
Ray Castillo entered in the top of the 7th to replace Jon Keller (6 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks). The Tigers got 2 aboard in their half of the inning but failed to bring them in after Blake Logan flied out and Ebert grounded to 1st base for the unassisted out to end that frame. Auburn turned to Keegan Thompson in the bottom half of the 7th and he retired the Tide in order. It was the first time during the game the Tide didn’t have a base runner reach.
Thomas Burrows came into the game for Ray Castillo ( 1 IP, 1 H, O ER, 3 BB, O Ks) in the top of the 8th. Burrows retired the first two batters for Auburn but allowed Grier to reach on an infield single to third base. The throw to first was not in time. Grier advanced into scoring position with a stolen base but the Auburn frame ended with a ground out to third base from Shaffer. Alabama had 2 reach on no outs in the bottom half after a single from Vincent and Webb reaches on a throwing error on the bunt attempt. Thompson strikes out 2 to go with the pop out to shortstop to end the threat and to send the game to the 9th all tied up at 3.
Auburn was retired in order in the top of the 9th as Burrows recorded 2 strikeouts in that half of the inning to send the game to the bottom of the 9th. Wade Wass got the action going for the Tide in the bottom of the ninth with a one out double. Casey Hughston stepped up to the plate and hit the game winning RBI double to right field to win the game.
The Tide will play Jackson State on Tuesday at Sewell Thomas Stadium with first pitch at 6:05 followed by a game with UAB at Regions Park in Birmingham on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 6:30. Bama then travels to Knoxville for a 3 game series next weekend against the Tennessee Volunteers.
–Author
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