AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn (26-25, 7-21) defeated Alabama (32-20, 12-6) 4-2 on senior night after a strong outing from senior Tanner Bauman.
Pitching has been the thorn in the side of Auburn's baseball team this season, but if you just watched Tanner Bauman pitch Thursday night you would not have known. Bauman had his best outing of the season throwing six innings allowing just two earned runs with eight punch outs. For a team looking to finish the season strong against their arch-rival, it was just what the Tigers needed.
"At home, the last time (Tanner Bauman) will get the chance to start," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "He saved his best for last and got us some length, walked out there for the seventh inning, that's huge... I'm thankful for him to get that on senior day. I thought that was pretty, pretty special."
Bauman has been a consistent weekend starter for Auburn over the back half of SEC play but had yet to throw six innings like he did Thursday night. He set a career-high in both innings pitched and strikeouts. Despite the strong performance, Bauman had to battle through a couple of his innings.
In the first inning, Alabama got a runner to third before Bauman struck out the four-hole hitter for the Tide. Bauman worked through more traffic in the second when the Tide had runners on first and second with two outs before Bauman forced a strikeout and ground out to end the inning.
Bauman allowed his only run of the game in the fourth inning but was able to limit the damage by stranding two runners on base. Bauman then cruised through the fifth and the sixth striking out three Tide batters. He returned to the mound to start the seventh but after walking the leadoff batter of the inning was removed. Will Cannon replaced Bauman throwing the final three holding Auburn's lead in check.
It was a tremendous start and a memorable night for the senior from Florida.
Auburn's offense scratched off a couple of runs through the first couple of innings but was unable to break through with a big inning only providing Bauman with minimal support. The Tigers left nine runners on base over the span of the night. They only scored one run in the first, third, sixth, and seventh innings. However, it was all the runs that would be needed.
Thursday's game was special for Auburn's baseball team after what has been a tough year. The Tigers now have the chance to add to the sweetness of Thursday's game by taking the series with a win in game two. The first pitch of game two is currently scheduled for Friday at 6:00 p.m. but with rain in the forecast that is subject to change. The game will air on the SEC Network+ and the Auburn Sports Network.
