After a slow start, No. 9 Auburn’s bats prevailed late in Friday night’s season opener, securing a 2-1 win over Youngstown State.
After recording just three hits through seven innings, the Tigers came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth looking to break a 1-1 tie. Sophomore Chase Fralick provided the spark Auburn was searching for, driving in Eric Guevara with a single to left field to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Eric Guevara (8) slides into home in Plainsman Park against Youngstown State on February 13, 2026.
“That was a lot. That felt like midseason type stuff,” said head coach Butch Thompson. “I have a bunch of emotions, but I think the overriding emotion is a game like that absolutely can crystallize some things for you. It’s a benefit if you can find the right way.”
Starting pitcher Jake Marciano was electric in his Auburn debut, tossing five innings while allowing one run on two hits and striking out 12, the most by a Tiger in a game since 2022.
“Attacking the strike zone,” Marciano said of his approach on the mound.” “I threw all of my pitches for strikes, and that’s what kind of got me through all those innings. That was my goal.”
The Penguins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth courtesy of junior Brady Shannon’s solo shot.
The Tigers responded, scoring their first run of the 2026 season via an RBI single from Chris Rembert, tying the game at one apiece. Rembert is expected to lead the Tigers offensively this season as he was named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, and he got off to a great start tonight.
Auburn received stellar pitching from Marciano, Drew Whalen, and Garrett Brewer.
Whalen, the Western Kentucky transfer, and Brewer, the Michigan State transfer, combined for four innings of work, five strikeouts and didn’t allow a run.
“We needed three guys to pitch great tonight, and we actually got that and it gave us a chance to win a ball game,” Thompson said. “Those three guys already experiencing that is huge for us having success and taking some confidence from it as well.”
After Fralick gave Auburn the lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers were three outs away from securing a victory to start the 2026 campaign.
However, the Penguins led by second-year Trevor Charpie weren’t going to go down on Opening Day without a fight.
Following a walk and a hit batsman surrendered by Whalen, Thompson turned to his bullpen and inserted Brewer to relieve Whalen of his duties.
With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position and no outs Brewer remained composed, striking out two batters and forcing Teddy Ruffner to fly out to center field to end the game.
“That was awesome. That was a great team win,” Brewer said of ending the game. “They had trust in me to go out there and throw strikes. It means a lot.”
The Tigers and Penguins will play game two of the series tomorrow night at Plainsman Park. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CST. Jackson Sanders will get the start on the mound for Auburn.
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Rory is a sophomore majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @RorymGarvin
