Auburn baseball: Tigers sweep Presbyterian Blue Hose in opening series

Auburn baseball got off to a strong start in non-conference play with a series sweep of Presbyterian of the Big South Conference.

Starting 2021 off 3-0 with very little drama until the series finale, the Tigers averaged over seven runs per game with a pair of dominant outings in the first two games of the non-SEC opener for Auburn.

Auburn baseball game #1 opener: Judd Ward leads the way for the offense

Starting off the season with a nice stat-inflating laser show, Auburn baseball walloped Presbyterian by a 14-3 margin.

The Tigers blew things open in the second inning with a four-run burst that was ignited by a two-out Josh Hall triple. Brody Moore’s single brought Hall home, while Judd Ward’s two-run blast to right field brought them both to home plate for a 4-0 lead.

When the Blue Hose threatened with a run in the fourth inning, JUCO-transfer Bryson Ware extended the lead back up to 6-1, and Presbyterian never came within three runs for the rest of what would become a blowout in the opener.

Auburn baseball game #2 Saturday matinee: Richard Fitts gives up one hit

While the Tigers once again pounced on the offensive end–with Bryson Ware’s first home run (solo) with Auburn kicking off the scoring and two more solo dingers from Nate LaRue and Ryan Bliss extending the lead to 4-1–it was Richard Fitts’ five-inning, one-hit, six-strikeout gem that set the tone for an 11K afternoon for the pitching staff.

The Tigers avoided a save situation with a two-run eighth inning that put game #2 out of reach (6-1) for the visitors from Clinton, South Carolina.

Auburn baseball game #3 series finale: Cam Hill and Bobby Pierce both play the hero role

Game 3 of the series between the Tigers and the Blue Hose provided plenty of drama, particularly compared to the first two games of the series.

Presbyterian took Auburn into extra innings, though it was a heroic 10th inning from two Tigers. First, in the top of the 10th, Cam Hill put the Blue Hose down in order, fanning two batters in his debut.

Following the freshman’s fantastic first outing as a Tiger, Bobby Pierce took the only pitch he saw up the middle in the bottom of the tenth to score the tiebreaking run for Auburn to complete the sweep. Rankin Woley’s double set up the one-out Pierce walk-off.

Currently ranked #21, Auburn baseball continues its non-conference schedule with a two-game matchup against Alabama A&M that Fly War Eagle will be on hand for.