The Tigers took the 7-3 victory to close out their final home game of the season Tuesday night, May 12, against the Morehead State University Eagles.
Bouncing back from a rough weekend against rival Alabama, the Tigers finished on a high note, despite coach Sunny Golloway's concerns about Morehead’s hitting ability.
Auburn struck first with a two-run RBI double by junior third baseman Alex Polston in the bottom of the second. It was his first start since March 15.
Morehead State followed in the top of the third with a triple and sacrifice fly to right field, scoring the runner. Auburn still led 2-1 and ended the top of the inning with a swinging strikeout.
The Tigers took an extended lead in the bottom of the third with RBIs from Daniel Robert, who has 19 in the last 18 games, Damon Haecker, Blake Logan and Cody Nulph. They closed out the inning with a 6-1 score.
Auburn managed to chase off the Eagles' starting pitcher Patrick McGruff after three innings and faced freshman left-handed pitcher Aaron Leasher in the fourth.
The score remained at a standstill until Kane Sweeney stepped up to the dish with one out for a solo home run in the top of the sixth, making it a 6-2 game.
The Eagles followed up with a double, single and flyout before Auburn brought in left-hander Will Thompson. Thompson closed the top of the inning with a strikeout.
Senior Robby Clements exited the game after 5 and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs and striking out three.
Polston started off the bottom of the inning reaching on an error fly ball to right. Jackson Burgreen followed with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to advance the runner. Melvin Gray laid out a squeeze bunt to bring Polston home and give the Tigers a 7-2 lead.
Dalton Rentz entered the game in the eighth after only one day’s rest and threw a perfect inning, striking out two. Rentz threw nearly 70 pitches in his Sunday, May 10, start against the Crimson Tide.
“Coach (Tom Holliday) talks to his guys before he throws them," Golloway said. "He knows them. He knows their arms, he knows how they can bounce back.”
Andrew Maxwell entered in the ninth for his second appearance of the year, and was replaced with one out and one runner on by Trey Wingenter. The right-hander allowed one run before the final out.
The Tigers are currently 33-20 overall and 12-15 in SEC play.
Auburn will travel to Gainesville, Florida, this weekend to face the seventh-ranked Florida Gators, who hold a 26-5 record at home.
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