In a thrilling series opener at Plainsman Park, No. 13 Auburn clinched a dramatic 7-6 victory against Austin Peay, propelled by Mason Maners' walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Auburn head coach Butch Thompson hailed the resilience of his team, noting the pivotal contributions from Christian Hall and Maners.
"Any time you find a way to get that last big swing and win one like this, hopefully that's great for development," Thompson said.
Maners' decisive moment came with a 2-2 count, as he connected with a slider from Austin Peay reliever Tyler Hampu, sending it soaring over the right-field fence and igniting celebrations among his teammates.
Reflecting on his game-winning hit, Maners credited the team's resilience and expressed his faith in their ability to secure the victory. "This team is so resilient... I had full faith we were going to pull that one out," Manners said.
The walk-off homer marked a significant milestone for Auburn, being the first since Kason Howell's feat against Yale in February 2022.
Trailing 6-5 in the eighth inning, Christian Hall delivered a crucial hit, launching a full-count fastball over the hitting facility to tie the game at six, setting the stage for Maners' heroics.
In relief, Tanner Bauman emerged as a key figure, holding Austin Peay in check in the final 1.1 frames to pave the way for Auburn's comeback. Bauman's timely pitching interventions earned praise from Thompson, who highlighted his ability to deliver under pressure.
Auburn had stormed to an early 5-0 lead with runs in the first and second innings. Cooper Weiss kickstarted the scoring with a two-strike single, followed by a series of plays that extended the lead, including a bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch.
Despite the early dominance, Austin Peay mounted a comeback, narrowing the deficit with consecutive singles and runs in the third inning. The momentum swung further in Austin Peay's favor with additional runs in the fifth and seventh innings, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Maners led the offensive charge with multiple hits, continuing his impressive form in recent games, while Cooper McMurray contributed with two hits and three RBI.
With the series poised for continued excitement, Auburn gears up for game two against Austin Peay on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
