Auburn out-slugs Alabama State to start action-packed week

In an outpour of offense, Auburn out-slugged Alabama State (ASU) 13-7 in Plainsman Park on Tuesday night in its first matchup of a six-game week.

“Thankful for the win, but I think we’re at a stage where we know things aren’t hitting on all cylinders,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “We have to keep coaching, keep playing and keep working.”

Auburn racked up 12 hits in the game, reached by walk seven times and took advantage of five ASU errors. Even with those impressive numbers, it was still outhit by ASU, who had 13 hits and walked eight times.

Senior Sonny DiChiara, who earned a College Baseball National Player of the week honor for his performance last week, extended his hitting streak to eight games and hit a home run in the contest for the fourth consecutive game, going for his fifth straight multi-hit game. He hit his SEC-leading seventh double with a rip down the left field line in the fourth inning.

"If we get some timely hits, we can do some damage," DiChiara said. "I think we're really coming together."

Cole Foster also had a big night for the Tigers, launching his first career home run with a 415-foot moonshot over the green monster to lead them to an explosive seven-run third inning.

The team returned Cam Hill to the lineup as the designated hitter, and he made his presence felt. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a double and a walk, while coming around to score three times.

“Cam Hill was my highlight tonight,” Thompson said. “He worked himself all the way around the field and scored a run when we needed it.”

Sophomore Pensacola State transfer Konner Copeland got his first action as a Tiger in the game, getting the start and pitching 2.1 innings on 52 pitches. He surrendered an unearned run in the first inning before being bailed out by his defense. He allowed five hits and two walks and recorded his first strikeout with Auburn. 

He had a rough opening inning, but he settled in to record a scoreless second before handing the ball to the bullpen in the third inning.

The Tigers used five pitchers in the game after Copeland’s short start. The bullpen featured Tyler Drabick, Brooks Fuller, John Armstrong, Blake Burhalter and Nate LaRue, who collectively covered 6.2 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits and six walks and 11 strikeouts. In a six-game week, pitching depth could be key late in the stretch.

However, Copeland allowed Auburn to skip a scheduled rotation spot and give Tommy Sheehan some much-needed rest.

Taking over for Copeland in the third frame, Drabick earned his first win of the season in his Auburn debut. He worked 2.1 innings of one-run ball, only allowing one hit and two walks compared to five strikeouts, which matches the most by an Auburn reliever this season.

LaRue slammed the door on the Hornets, recording the last six outs in shutout fashion.

"With all of these games, you want some arms to be able to handle the game," Thompson said. “Nate LaRue did a nice job being in the strike zone… I thought he showed a good arm, and I think he's going to pitch more."

ASU racked up four hits in the top of the first, but the Auburn defense limited the damage to one run with strong defensive play. 

Everything off the bat of Alabama State found an island in the opening frame. The Hornets threatened quickly, loading the bases on three softly-hit infield hits. Auburn was able to get one out on a bunt that catcher Jake Wyandt scooped up and fired to second base to get the lead runner.

With one out, Alabama State hammered a ball into left field that easily scored the runner from third, but Ryan Dyal, who was making his debut in left field, picked up the ball and threw a dime to the plate to the keep the runner from second from scoring and record the second out.  

The Hornets did not learn their lesson, and the next at bat yielded the same result. It was another hard ground ball to Dyal in left field, and the runner from second was waved around third and attempted to score. Once again, Dyal hit Wyandt in the chest, and he tagged the runner out to end what could have been an explosive inning for the Hornets.

Through four innings, Auburn held a commanding lead, going up 9-1, but ASU’s offense came to life and made it a competitive game once again.

Following three quiet innings, ASU put five runs on the board in the fifth and sixth innings to cut Auburn’s lead to three. 

With two outs in the fifth, the Hornets started a rally with a walk and a double, putting runners on second and third. A wild pitch allowed runners to advance and scored one before the third pitching change in the inning led to Fuller getting the final out.

The next inning, the Hornets got themselves back in the contest with four runs. Two RBI singles and a wild pitch brought home four runs to make it a 9-6 Auburn lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Hornets could not keep the momentum, as they gifted the Tigers three more in the sixth on a walk, catcher’s interference and a wild pitch, to give Auburn a six-run advantage going into the final three innings.

Each team added another run to the shootout in the seventh. DiChiara displayed his power once again, driving a solo dinger over the left-field wall for his team-high fourth long ball of the season.

This was the last scoring of the night, as LaRue closed the game out with two scoreless innings to seal the win.

The Tigers started off their busy week with a win and move to 6-2 on the campaign. Tomorrow night, the Tigers continue their home stretch in a contest with another in-state rival, the UAB Blazers. First pitch is at 6 p.m. CST.

“All in all, we’ll have to really re-evaluate our pitching and make sure we have enough for tomorrow night because we have a good ball club coming to town,” Thompson said.