AUBURN, Ala. — No. 20 Auburn (13-3) beat Old Dominion (4-9) 7-3 on Sunday afternoon to take the final non-conference weekend series of the year. Auburn won the series opener on Friday afternoon before dropping game two on Saturday. The Tigers, however, won the rubber match on Sunday.
Auburn struck first on Sunday in the second inning with an RBI single from second-baseman Chris Rembert. The Tigers tacked on one run in each of the third and fourth innings as well as an RBI double from shortstop Deric Fabian and an RBI single from third baseman Eric Snow respectively.
Auburn added two more runs in the fifth inning on a solo shot from Fabian and an RBI single from catcher Chase Fralick. The Tigers scored in four straight innings before finally recording a scoreless frame in the sixth inning.
“By the time we got through the second time through the lineup, we were not as jumpy today, Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “We just really had good at-bats.”
Auburn’s offense provided plenty of cushion for freshman starter Christian Chatterton. Chatterton was excellent on Sunday throwing five and two-thirds allowing just one run, zero earned, in the outing. Chatterton also had six strikeouts and allowed only three hits. After Auburn’s pitching woes on Saturday, Chatterton’s strong start was a welcomed reprieve.
“Christian Chatterton, the freshman, just absolutely stood up for us,” Thompson said.
With the rain begging to pour down late Sunday afternoon, Auburn first baseman Cooper McMurray hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to extend Auburn’s lead. Auburn’s offense managed to plate seven runs in the game on 13 hits in another strong day at the plate.
Old Dominion would score two runs in the top of the ninth to narrow the margin to four, but Auburn would eventually seal the deal. With the win, the Tigers won every weekend series in non-conference play. The gauntlet of SEC play will begin next weekend.
“To win all four series to start, even if you date back a couple of weeks ago, say six weeks of weekend series in a row,” Thompson said. “That’s good for the ball club.”
First, though, Auburn will face UT Martin at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama, on Tuesday night. The first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m, and the game will air on the Auburn Sports Network.
