Auburn Baseball: Tigers Avoid Upset, Defeat UAB

Tigers score eight unanswered runs over the final three innings of Tuesday’s game against UAB, defeating the Blazers 11-8 on Tuesday in Birmingham

Wow, these guys refuse to lose.

Auburn Baseball improved to 13-0 after defeating in-state rival UAB on Tuesday, 11-8, behind a late-game offensive surge. Down 8-3 heading into the 7th inning, Josh Anthony began the rally by nailing a three-run home run over the left field fence, cutting the Blazer lead to 8-6.

Auburn got to within one run of UAB in the top of the 8th inning when Will Holland scored Jay Estes on a one-out single. Luke Jarvis reached base in the next at-bat, giving way to Brett Wright to copy what Anthony did in the inning prior, by hitting a three-run home run. Wright’s bomb moved Auburn ahead, 10-8, giving the Tigers their first lead since holding a 2-1 lead in the second inning.

Estes doubled home Anthony in the ninth inning, adding one more insurance run to Auburn’s total.

Herndon and Greenhill save day for Auburn pitching

Between innings 4-6, UAB scored seven runs off of six Auburn pitchers. Auburn starter Ryan Hoerter lasted three complete innings, allowing four runs. Out of the seven total pitchers that Auburn used out of the bullpen, four of them did not last a full inning. Blake Schilleci, Calvin Coker, and Welby Malczewski were each pulled after recording two outs, while Ryan Watson lasted only two batters, giving up a hit and a walk. Elliot Anderson lasted one full inning, allowing two unearned runs on two hits while striking out one.

Once Auburn’s bats heated up, so did Auburn’s relief pitchers. Cory Herndon replaced Malczewski in the bottom of the 7th inning after the leadoff batter walked. Herndon finished the inning, and ultimately deemed the winner after not allowing the baserunner that he inherited to score. After Auburn regained the lead in the top of the 8th, Cody Greenhill was asked to close out the game. The freshman struck out three batters, earning the save.

Next up for Auburn

One final non-conference weekend series awaits Auburn this weekend at Plainsman Park. The Northeastern University Huskies make the trip from Brookline, Massachusetts to face Auburn for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6 P.M.

Northeastern enters the series with an 8-3 record and a five-game winning streak. The Huskies swept the “Snowbird Classic” last weekend in Port Charlotte, Florida, defeating Presbyterian, Dartmouth, Villanova, and Georgetown. They also split a four-game series with Missouri two weekends ago.

Interesting fact: Head Coach of the Northeastern Huskies is Mike Glavine. Mike’s older brother is Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine, and he is the uncle of current Auburn pitcher, Peyton Glavine.

The upcoming series will be the first time all season that Northeastern has not played a game in the state of Florida. The Huskies will play their first home game of the season next Tuesday against Hartford