In a game in which they did not hold a lead until the bottom of the ninth inning, the Auburn Tigers baseball team completed an incredible walk-off comeback victory Wednesday night against the West Georgia Wolves.
Coming off an impressive weekend in which the Tigers secured two ranked wins and tallied 23 runs in three games, Auburn’s offense was much less effective Wednesday night.
Similar to their other midweek games this season, the Tigers squandered many early scoring opportunities.
Auburn left 10 runners on base throughout the game, six of whom were in scoring position. The Tigers will hope to improve their situational hitting before their three-game series against Nebraska this weekend.
Auburn’s starter, Andres Alvarez, had a solid night on the mound. The sophomore threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven batters.
Junior Drew Whalen came in relief and allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings of work, striking out three despite surrendering four hits.
But it was junior Ryan Hetzler who recorded his second win of the season after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth for the Tigers, setting up the walk-off victory.
Auburn's only run of the first seven innings came in the bottom of the third, when center fielder Bristol Carter scored on an error while stealing third base, making it a 2-1 game.
After West Georgia left fielder Anthony Cole hit a solo homer in the top of the eighth to put the Wolves up 3-1, Auburn pinch hitter Mason McCraine responded with an RBI single, driving in his brother Brandon and cutting the deficit to one run. That was all for the Tigers in the eighth, however, and heading into the ninth inning down one, they needed a rally.
Catcher Chase Fralick added to his three-hit night by drawing a four-pitch walk with one out in the ninth before being replaced by pinch runner Ty Thompson. Thompson advanced to second on a groundout, leaving it up to first baseman Ethan Bingaman to deliver a clutch two-out hit. Bingeman did exactly that, recording a game-tying single to right field. After a wild pitch by the Wolves, Bingaman advanced to second as the potential winning run.
Star outfielder Bub Terrell then stepped to the plate, looking to send the Tigers home happy. In the Tigers' most important at-bat of the season, Terrell delivered. With a 2–2 count, he sliced a line drive to left field for a base hit. As Bingaman rounded third base, attempting to score the winning run, it appeared the throw might beat him to the plate. However, a high throw from the left fielder forced the Wolves catcher to leap for the ball, allowing Bingaman to slide just under the tag and secure an incredible win for the Tigers.
Make sure to catch the Tigers this weekend as they take on Nebraska in a three-game series at Plainsman Park.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
