AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball continued its weekend series against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, dropping the second contest 6-8 to even the series at one.
The Auburn bats got off to a hot start, putting up runs in each of the first three innings. In the first it was a sacrifice fly from Chase Fralick that scored Cooper McMurray, who had reached on a single up the middle earlier in the inning.
The second inning started with a Bub Terrell walk for the Tigers, putting the leadoff runner on for Lucas Steele. Steele jumped on the 0-1 offering from Vandy starter Ethan McElvain, ripping it over the left field wall to extend the Auburn lead to 3-0.
However, Vandy would respond in the top of the third. Cade Fisher got the start for Auburn, and the Florida transfer settled in early. Fisher went two innings scoreless before struggling in the third, allowing two hits, two walks, and three earned runs.
The runs for Vandy would come via RBI doubles from RJ Austin and Brodie Johnston, the second of which would be the last batter of the day for Fisher after Vandy tied the score at three.
Auburn kept the offense going in the third, though, adding a run of its own. Lucas Steele singled to left, scoring Chase Fralick for the junior’s third RBI of the day which put Auburn up 4-3.
The game would remain 4-3 until the fifth inning, when the Vandy bats woke up again in a big way. Brodie Johnston led off the inning with a double, which was quickly followed by a walk by Riley Nelson.
Mac Rose grounded out, but scored Johnston to re-tie the game at four. Then, Auburn brought in John Armstrong to pitch, and the hit parade began in earnest for the Commodores.
Jayden Davis delivered an RBI single, followed by two more RBI singles by Jonathan Vastine and Braden Holcomb. RJ Austin then knocked an RBI double before Armstrong was able to escape the inning.
Auburn found itself staring up at an 8-4 deficit on the scoreboard with four innings remaining, a gap it would be unable to surmount. Bub Terrell added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to draw Auburn within three.
Lucas Steele collected his fourth RBI of the day in the seventh, scoring Chase Fralick yet again. However, Auburn would be able to do no more, leading to the 8-6 defeat.
Sawyer Hawks collected the win for Vandy, pitching three innings and allowing four hits, two walks, and two earned runs. Hawks also struck out three. Miller Green secured the save for the Commodores, pitching the final 2.2 innings, striking out two Tigers, and allowing just two hits. The save was Green’s fourth of the season.
Cam Tilly received the loss for Auburn, falling to 2-1 on the season. Tilly pitched 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, three walks, and three earned runs.
The loss drops Auburn to 15-4 on the season, but the Tigers will have a chance to take the series over Vanderbilt tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Plainsman Park.
