Auburn's pitching staff put together another dominant performance as it completed its third shutout in five games, finishing off UT Martin 2-0 on Wednesday at Plainsman Park completing the midweek sweep with the win.
The win was Auburn's sixth in a row starting with the series finale at UCF. Auburn (11-2) improved to 9-1 at home this season.
"Our pitching rebounded unbelievably," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "I think it goes back to show some depth. If we have to score 15 runs every night to win a ballgame, we're in trouble. I take it as a positive because now I feel like we've (been in) two completely different spectrums of a ballgame and find a way to win both of them. I took it as a positive that we can find different ways to win."
Garrett Wade (2-0, 0.00) got the first start and win of his Auburn career. The Hartselle, Alabama, native threw a season-high five innings and only allowed one hit with two walks and eight strikeouts.
"The mindset's the same — just trying to go out and attack the strike zone, and give us the best chance to win," Wade said. "I felt comfortable out there, and I had a lot of confidence in myself."
Wade struck out the side in the third and struck out five straight during the stretch that started in the top of the second. Wade struck out two or more batters in three of his five innings.
Conor Davis provided the offensive spark for the Tigers as he broke the scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo shot to left field. On a 2-0 pitch, Davis lifted it high and deep down the left-field line with the ball just staying inside the foul pole to provide the run the Tigers needed.
With the score 1-0, Carson Skipper entered the game in the top of the seventh with two outs and runners on the corners but got the job done and sent UT Martin back to their dugout with a strikeout and zero runs on the board. Skipper struck out five batters in 2.1 perfect innings of relief and got the save.
Auburn doubled its lead with a run in the bottom of the eight. Matt Scheffler started the inning off with a single and later reached home on a wild pitch. Skipper then got the job done in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side for the Auburn win.
The Tigers stays busy this weekend with a three-game series against UTSA (7-6) Friday through Sunday at Plainsman Park.
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