For the first time all series, Holy Cross scored a run and took a lead in the 3rd inning. That lead would only last two innings.
After trailing 2-1 through four innings Sunday, Auburn scored eight runs in the fifth inning en route to a 13-4 victory and sweep of Holy Cross. The weekend sweep was the first sweep for Auburn since April 23-25, 2015 vs. Georgia. Auburn out-scored Holy Cross 24-4 in the series.
“I am thankful for a sweep,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “A sweep is special, especially at home, especially in front of our home crowd and especially with moving forward. I told the players, “Hopefully this isn’t our last sweep of the year, and we’ll have some challenges along the way but hopefully we will get more (sweeps) going forward.””
The big inning began with Sam Gillikin reaching on an error after attempting to bunt for a hit. Jay Estes, Jonah Todd and Daniel Robert followed with three straight singles to score two runs. Josh Anthony then walked to load the bases for Blake Logan. The senior catcher hit a sacrifice fly to score Todd, and Robert came around to score from second after Anthony got caught in a rundown.
With two outs, freshman Will Holland launched his first career homerun over the Monster in left field to give Auburn a 7-2 lead. He finished the day with three RBI.
“It was good. I just tried to get a good swing on it,” Holland said about his big fly. “I hit it hard and it went far enough. It felt good.”
Estes finished the inning with a two-run double to left, his second hit of the inning. The Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate in the biggest inning of the season.
Estes finished the afternoon 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored. Robert was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Anthony scored three runs for the Tigers. The 13 runs was a season-high for the Tigers.
Auburn starter Davis Daniel lasted just 4.1 innings for the second consecutive start to begin his career. The freshman scattered five hits and allowed two runs. The Montgomery, Alabama native struck out a career-high six batters without walking a batter.
Thompson was disappointed with Daniel’s execution, especially with two strikes, but he expressed optimism about the freshman going forward.
“I believe in him so much, but the execution has got to get better as we get deeper and as we get closer to the ten consecutive weeks that really define our whole season,” Auburn’s second-year head coach said.
Andrew Mitchell (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen throwing 0.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Calvin Coker, Ryan Watson, Christian Camacho, Welby Malczewski and Trevor Hillhouse finished the final four innings for the Tigers.
“On the mound for the most part, again, shoving the ball in the strike zone,” Thompson said. “We did get some guys in the ballgame that have not made an appearance. I thought that was huge for us today.”
Holy Cross first baseman Alex Volpi was 2-of-3 with a homerun for the Crusaders. Starter Justin Finan (0-1) took the loss for Holy Cross, allowing eight runs (three earned) over 4.2 innings.
Auburn is now 7-1 for the first time since 2007. The Tigers will host Samford Tuesday at 3 p.m. CST at Plainsman Park.
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