On a day when the US men's hockey team won the gold in the 2026 winter Olympics, the Tigers also found themselves at the top of the podium in the Amegy College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas. Auburn outlasted all three of its opponents this weekend in convincing fashion, exhibiting welcomed improvements on the offensive side, while continuing to surpass pitching expectations.
The Tigers got off to a hot start in their first game at Globe Life Field on Friday night, defeating the previously unbeaten Kansas State Wildcats 5-1. The offense had a much-needed bounce back showing after suffering a shut out at the hands of Cincinnati on Tuesday, tallying 11 hits throughout the lineup with four players accounting for multiple hits.
Auburn head coach Butch Thompson has continued to champion a strong belief in his team’s offensive potential, despite a shaky start to the season before Arlington.
“Offensively we just needed a spirit, some fight, if you will,” said Thompson, after defeating Kansas State. “We got double digit hits tonight, but I know we’re not locked in swinging the bats yet. We put Bristol Carter in that leadoff spot, and I think that made a difference. It made a difference on the bases. It made a difference in the short game, a slash. I thought I saw some fight to kind of scrap, and we somehow got to five [runs]. That was powerful.”
Centerfielder Bristol Carter finished the game 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI. He also scored three runs, stealing two bases in the process. Carter provided a much-needed energy and looseness to the order batting out of the lead-off spot, and he would continue to be a rejuvenating force for the Tigers throughout the weekend.
“I got a lot of gas left in the tank,” said Carter. “I kind of have a different approach this year, and that’s getting to first base any way I can and start causing havoc on the base paths and score any possible way I can. I feel like I’m playing a little kid’s game. It’s just part of my game, going out there and causing havoc.”
Regardless of the improved offensive output, the story of the game was the performance of starting pitcher Jake Marciano, who soared through six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. In two starts to begin the season, Marciano has allowed one run on four hits to complement zero walks and 20 strikeouts.
Marciano continues to generate excitement as he gains the confidence of the Auburn coaching staff.
“That’s back-to-back (starts) for Marciano,” Thompson said. “We’ve been very excited about him. He laid good tracks after a tough game for us Tuesday.
Against a Kansas State team that scored 57 runs in their first four games, Marciano showed he can be a reliable piece of a pitching rotation that has continued to surpass expectations this season.
The next day on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Texas, the Tigers showcased impressive resiliency in an 8-5 victory over No. 16 Florida State, a game where the Seminoles jumped out to an instant 4-0 lead on five hits in the first inning.
Despite an immediate blitzing from the Seminole offense, Auburn starting pitcher Jackson Sanders set the tone of perseverance by not allowing another hit and striking out nine Seminole bats with one walk in five innings pitched.
“That looked a little bit more like us, right?” Thompson said after the game. “I loved what Jackson Sanders did. Let me start there. They came out looking for the fastball, and they banged it. It didn’t go to a glove. He didn’t do anything but get better. I like the competitive spirit for him to continue to go and get five innings after giving up four in the first.”
The Auburn offense carried on the momentum generated by Sanders, scoring single runs in the second and third innings before breaking the seal in the fifth inning with three runs to take a 5-4 lead.
Auburn would tack on three more runs over the next three innings by way of sacrifice flys and wild pitches from Florida State, allowing the Tigers to capitalize on base runners in another 11 hit-output from the bats. Auburn relievers Jett Johnston and Ryan Hetzler closed the door in the final four innings, combining for two total hits given up and four strikeouts, with Johnston relinquishing the Seminoles’ only run after the first inning in the eighth on a wild pitch.
The Tigers were led by Bristol Carter, who finished the game 3-of-3 with a walk, effectively reaching base every time he stepped into the batter box. Carter has been an injection of energy and production at the leadoff spot as he continues to set the tone for the Auburn offense.
Second baseman Brandon McCraine has impressed mightily in the absence of star 2B Chris Rembert, going 3-of-4 and scoring 3 runs against the Seminoles. He is making a significant push to be an integral part of this batting order as a redshirt freshman, even after Rembert’s return.
Auburn capped off its huge weekend with an imposing 10-6 victory over the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals on Sunday.
The Auburn bats continued to show improvement and consistency throughout the course of nine innings, tallying 13 hits while scoring runs in six separate innings.
Freshman Ethin Bingaman exploded onto the scene against the Cardinals, using his 201-pound frame to smash two home runs for two RBIs, while also scoring three runs in the process. Bingaman joins McCraine as another young bat coach Thompson will try and create more opportunities for moving forward.
“My plan today was just heater. Be ready for it, and if they throw it, swing at it,” said Bingaman. “It's great. It gives you a lot of confidence when you see the guy in front of you get on base, and you feel more confident that you can hit that guy.”
Other offensive standouts include the flaming hot Bristol Carter (2-of-5 and 2 runs scored), Chase Fralick (2-of-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored), and Bub Terrell (3-of-5 with 2 RBIs).
“Bristol Carter was a catalyst for us this weekend,” Thompson said. “I think he might be the one who gets the most credit for getting us going. Brandon McCraine filled in great for Chris Rembert. He stuck out to me, and (Ethin) Bingaman getting his first two home runs were two big swings today for us.”
Starting pitcher Alex Petrovic acquired another win, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits to complement five strikeouts and zero walks. Auburn’s confidence in its starting pitching rotation is only increasing as Petrovic continues to prove his value as a third pitcher.
After a Chase Fralick RBI single in the eighth inning, the Tigers found themselves with a 10-3 lead entering the ninth with a chance to shut Louisville down for good, but the Cardinals made all of Auburn hold their breath with a quick three run spurt against reliever LJ Cormier in the ninth inning to make the score 10-6. Reliever Garrett Brewer then entered the ninth with two outs and two men on base and provided instant comfort, striking out the lone batter to end the game in victorious fashion.
This win marks Auburn’s eighth straight in Arlington dating back to their first appearance at the tournament in 2022. In the past, success in Arlington has equated to success throughout the season.
If the Tigers are going to enjoy the success this season that many experts and observers project, this weekend in Arlington will undoubtedly be pointed to as a crucial point in their progression. After a rough showing the week before against Cincinnati in Plainsman Park, the Tigers showed the college baseball world why they opened the season ranked in the top 10. The Tigers now move forward with an abundance of confidence in their identity as a team that excels in every facet of the game.
Up next, the Tigers will host West Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 6:00 p.m. CST.
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Noah is a senior majoring in business administration. He joined the Plainsman in spring 2026.
