AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 25 Auburn Tigers defeated the North Alabama Lions 6-2 Wednesday night behind strong performances from freshmen Andreas Alvarez and Chris Rembert.
Alvarez logged his first collegiate start Wednesday, allowing just two runs on four hits in five innings of work. The freshman right-hander also logged nine strikeouts, the most by an Auburn pitcher since Keegan Thompson in 2014. Alvarez gave up a single on the first pitch of the game followed by a two-run home run by Nash Rippen, but settled in nicely, retiring ten consecutive batters after the rough start.
“I was raised to be able to punch back,” Alvarez said. “I feel like that was my mindset right there. ‘Alright, I just got punched, but I’m gonna punch back harder.’”
The Tigers freshman second baseman Chris Rembert also a night full of firsts, recording his first hit and home run all in one swing. Rembert turned around a fastball, hitting it halfway up the batter’s eye for his first career round-tripper in the fifth inning. The second baseman also recorded the final out of the ballgame to put a bow on what was a special day for him.
“It’s only five games, but soon they’ll just be guys that help us win instead of freshman,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “If they continue to go about their business the way that they are.”
The Tigers once again had a shutout performance from their bullpen, this time from Griffin Graves and Parker Carlson. Graves pitched a hitless sixth inning before giving way to Carlson, who pitched three hitless innings of his own to close this one out.
The Tigers will be back in action this weekend for a series against Wright State at Plainsman Park. All three games will be broadcast on SECN+ and the Auburn Sports Network.
