AUBURN, Ala. – After a disappointing loss to Holy Cross Saturday night, Auburn baseball was back on the right side of the rubber match of the series Sunday afternoon. Auburn struck early and was able to blow the doors off of the Crusaders of Holy Cross, 14-6.
After three quick outs in both the top of the first, Cade Belyeu smashed a single over the shortstop’s head into left center, stole second, putting himself into scoring position for Ike Irish, who hit a hard grounder between first and second base to open the scoring. In the second, another three quick ones in the top, freshman Chris Rembert got on base via an error and Bristol Carter knocked a double into the right-center gap to give Auburn a 2-0 lead.
Holy Cross pulled back even with a double down the line in the third and a home run over the wall in left-center by Gianni Royer in the fourth. Auburn wouldn’t let the setback rattle them, as they rattled off a run in the bottom of the fourth when Chase Fralick singled just inside the right field line to score Deric Fabian from second. In the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases to walk in a run.
The Crusaders got both back on a double in the top of the sixth, but two homers by Chase Fralick and C McMurray in the bottom half scored five for the Tigers and broke the game wide open. Holy Cross scored two in the top of the seventh and Auburn tacked on three more in the bottom half and two more in the eighth, wrapping up the win, 14-6.
Auburn starter, freshman Christian Chatterton went five and one third innings and struck out five while allowing four runs on six hits. Freshman Chase Fralick went three-for-five and hit his first homer as a Tiger. He found the top of the building over the right field wall in the sixth.
When asked about it postgame, Fralick said, “I blacked out, definitely, right when I hit it. I haven’t felt a swing that good in a long time. But, I mean, it was incredible.”
Cooper McMurray’s home run in the sixth was also his first of the new campaign, he went two-for-three with a walk and double along with the big fly. He was asked about how big the three-run homer was for the team and the momentum going forward.
McMurray said, “I think it was huge… Being able to have the pitching staff’s back when they needed it. You know, they threw the ball well, but I think it was big for our confidence and for our team as a whole.”
Auburn baseball has a couple of in-state battles this week before hosting Wright State this weekend. They match up with Troy on Tuesday night and then North Alabama on Wednesday at Plainsman Park. Both will be streamed on SEC Network+.
