The Tigers played an outstanding all-around game to take down their No. 8 ranked rivals, Alabama. Auburn looked unstoppable both hitting and pitching tonight in its win against the Tide. Their offense would end up scoring 10 runs in just six innings on offense due to the mercy rule. On top of a great showcase on offense, senior starting pitcher Samuel Dutton shoved, throwing all seven innings allowing just no runs while striking out six.
“That vaulted us tonight,” said head coach Butch Thompson on the way his team played, “when we made and converted those plays. And the at-bats up and down the lineup were just tremendous.”
Their offense opened the game scorching hot amassing eight hits in their first 11 at-bats accumulating four runs in the first inning and two runs in the second and never looking back. The offense would end up totaling 15 hits. The Tigers hitting was overwhelming earning all 10 of their runs without a single homerun as they had nine singles, six doubles, and five walks. Freshman Chase Fralick not only caught a great game behind the plate but also led the way for the offense going 4-4 in his first career game in the rivalry.
“It was awesome,” Fralick said about the lineup’s impressive night at the plate, “I mean, it all started from the top of the first inning. Everybody did their job in the whole lineup, and it was kind of just my job to keep up the level. And I mean, I may have had four hits, but everybody else had just as important part.”
Despite scoring 10 runs throughout the game the Tigers did not even have to lean on their offense because of the outstanding night on the defensive side as well. The Tigers in the field handled almost every hard-hit ball hit at them including an impressive save at the wall by left fielder Bub Terrell allowing them to finish the night without a single error.
With the help of immense offensive support and his defense behind him Dutton was able to go the distance and finish the game allowing only two hits to the Tide’s potent offense. Dutton was able to fill up the zone forcing weak contact allowing his defense to do the work for him. He kept Alabama’s in between pitches the entire night permitting only one runner to reach second base during his outing.
“It’s huge,” said Dutton on the support he got around him, “There’s a reason why I can fill up the strike zone like I can because they give me the run support. And you know, when they do that, then I can attack and be more aggressive.”
In a picture-perfect night for the Tigers where everything was going their way, they even had a record braking attendance for their program with 6,729 fans in attendance for what was arguably the biggest win of the season.
The Tigers look to win the series tomorrow in their doubleheader to close the series against the Tide in Plainsman Park with game one slated to start at 2 pm CST and game two slated for 7 pm CST.
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Reid is a freshman, exploratory major. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @ReidFarris2
