The No. 14 Auburn Tigers claimed the rubber game against UConn on Sunday, defeating the Huskies 8-2 to clinch the series win.
After going three up, three down in the top of the first, Auburn took a quick 3-0 lead over the Huskies after Deric Fabian hit a home run deep over the left field fence, sending Bobby Peirce and Cooper McMurray home. The Tigers maintained their first-inning lead for the rest of the contest.
UConn responded to Auburn’s early home run with one of their own in the top of the second with designated hitter Matt Malcom hitting one over the left field fence.
The Huskies scored one more run in the fifth inning on a single to left field where Paul Tamarro scored.
In the fourth inning, UConn nearly closed in on Auburn’s 3-1 lead, loading the bases with one out. Third baseman Tyler Minick (.100) took to the batter's box where he flied out on a 2-2 pitch and Luke Broadhurst was thrown out at home, ending the top of the inning and near-Husky comeback on a double play.
Sophomore Ike Irish led the Tigers offensively, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs. Irish homered in the bottom of the sixth with two outs to send Mason Maners home and again in the eighth inning to send Maners home once again.
“It all started in the first inning,” Irish said. “Cooper and Bobby getting on base for Fabian, and then Fabian leaves the yard…He allowed us to get the big swings.”
Fabian followed, going 2-for-3 at the plate with one home run and three RBIs. Cooper McMurray, Chris Stanfield and Maners all went 2-for-4.
LHP Carson Myers (1-0, 1.88 ERA) started for Auburn on the mound, recording one run, three hits, four walks and no strikeouts through four innings. Freshman Cam Tilly pitched four innings against the Huskies, recording one run, three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Tilly earned the win for the Tigers, his second of the season.
“Going one inning or two innings it’s really hard to get in a role,” Tilly said. “But I think today, having the trust of the coaches really, really helped a lot.”
RHP Will Cannon closed things out for Auburn, recording one hit, one strikeout, and two walks.
The Huskies brought on seven pitching changes and eight different pitchers. RHP Stephen Quigley (0-2, 3.31 ERA) started for UConn, playing 4.2 innings with three runs, seven hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Overall, the Huskies recorded nine strikeouts– compared to three from the Tigers–three walks and 12 hits.
The Tigers will face Air Force in a two-game series beginning on Tuesday, March 5. The time of the first pitch is to be announced, and it will be televised on SEC Network+.
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Grace Heim is a junior from Enterprise, Alabama, majoring in English Literature. She started with The Plainsman in January 2023.
