AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball opened its second weekend series of the 2025 season tonight vs the Wright State Raiders. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead, never let up, and secured an 11-0 victory to begin the three-game set.
The first inning got off to an ideal start, as Auburn starting pitcher Samuel Dutton was able to roll a double play with one out to get the Tigers out of the frame with zeroes still on the scoreboard. Then, the Auburn offense came out with a bang.
Third baseman Eric Snow secured a leadoff hit for the Tigers, which was shortly followed by another single from center fielder Cade Belyeu, advancing Snow to third. Belyeu would steal second base soon after, putting runners on second and third for first baseman Cooper McMurray following a strikeout by designated hitter Ike Irish.
McMurray would deliver, ripping a single into center field that would score both of the Auburn runners and give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Auburn wasn’t done yet though, as shortstop Deric Fabian singled to bring up Freshman Bub Terrell with runners on first and second.
Terrell jumped on the second pitch of the at bat, driving deep to right center field and over the wall for the first home run of his collegiate career, a three-run shot. Terrell’s long ball would extend the Auburn lead to 5-0, and many of the fans in Plainsman Park immediately had a run-rule finish on their minds.
The second inning saw Wright State held scoreless yet again, and the bottom of the inning saw another Auburn run come across the plate. Cade Belyeu singled, followed by an Ike Irish walk. Cooper McMurray then delivered his third RBI of the game on his second single of the day, driving in Belyeu.
The third inning would follow the familiar formula once again, as Wright State was kept off the scoreboard by Samuel Dutton before the Auburn lineup came to the plate and added insurance like they were each working for State Farm.
This time it was Chase Fralick, who scored Bud Terrell on an RBI single to left field. Eric Snow would then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that would score Chris Rembert and give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.
The fourth and fifth innings were kept scoreless by both pitching staffs, as Dutton continued to deal for Auburn and the Wright State staff managed to finally settle in behind the work of Joey Valentine and Kyle Kesel.
The sixth inning appeared to be more of the same as Wright State went scoreless, but the Auburn lineup had different ideas. Cade Belyeu opened the inning by being hit by a pitch and then stole second base. Ike Irish singled, scoring Belyeu.
Then came Cooper McMurray, who laced an RBI double down the right field line, scoring Irish for his fourth RBI of the day. Chris Rembert would round out the Auburn scoring by driving in McMurray later in the inning, giving the Tigers an 11-0 lead they would hold until the game’s conclusion three outs later.
Despite an injury to star transfer pitcher Cade Fisher, Samuel Dutton filled in admirably in Fisher’s absence. Dutton, an LSU transfer, pitched 5.2 innings for Auburn, striking out seven Wright State hitters while allowing seven hits and walking just one.
Dutton’s performance, along with the offensive explosion by the Tigers, meant that Auburn relievers only had to face four batters on the day, something that Auburn Head Coach Butch Thompson knows the value of all too well.
“I think we thought we might have to use Watts today, or Petrovic, or one of those guys,” Coach Thompson said. “So that might get us somebody that’s built out pitch count, and an opportunity to figure out who we’re going to start tomorrow.”
Though Friday’s performance gave the Tigers many things to be happy about, this was only game one of the weekend series. Auburn will face Wright State two more times over the next two days, and will look to take the series win tomorrow at noon in Plainsman Park.
