No. 5 Auburn bounced back Tuesday night, defeating South Alabama 10-0 in eight innings.
Led by Chris Rembert, the Tigers’ bats exploded, recording 10 runs on 12 hits. Every batter in head coach Butch Thompson’s lineup reached safely at least once against the Jaguars.
“I just think it’s one of the most complete games we’ve played this year,” Thompson said. “Some low line drives and good at-bats all the way around.”
Entering the in-state matchup with a 1.09 ERA, Auburn right-hander Andreas Alvarez continued his strong start to the 2026 season, tossing a career-high seven innings while allowing four hits, one walk and striking out eight.
“Dre just keeps getting better,” Thompson said. “The fastball played great. He just did an amazing job.”
After struggling with situational hitting against the Longhorns, Thompson’s ballclub rebounded, hitting .474 (9-for-19) with runners on base and .357 (5-for-14) with runners in scoring position in Tuesday’s run-rule win.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the board, scoring one run in the first on Chase Fralick’s RBI double down the right-field line. The ball was juggled by South Alabama right fielder Mike Young, allowing Rembert to score from first base.
After leaving 12 runners on base in Sunday’s rubber match against Texas, Auburn cashed in with a runner aboard in its first opportunity.
The orange and blue kept the scoring going in the second, recording three consecutive singles from Brandon McCraine, Cade Belyeu and Bristol Carter, along with a sacrifice fly from Rembert, to extend their lead to 3-0.
In the third, South Alabama had its first threat of the night as its first two batters of the inning reached safely. However, a baserunning mistake from Nick Richard helped Alvarez escape the frame scoreless.
Auburn kept its foot on the gas in the fourth, tacking on two more courtesy of Rembert’s single through the left side. The sophomore finished the evening 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and one home run.
To open the fifth, it appeared Robert Miran would reach safely for the Jaguars until Alvarez made a barehanded play, and first baseman Ethin Bingaman picked the throw out of the dirt to retire the leadoff man.
Alvarez was untouchable all night including in the sixth. The right-hander made quick work of South Alabama with a four-pitch inning. Stewart Puck’s fly-out to right field to end the frame marked 11 Jaguars retired in a row.
The Tigers extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Belyeu hit a double into right-center field, scoring Eddie Madrigal and Bingaman.
“It feels good to get on the barrel there in that last at-bat,” Belyeu said. “Obviously, it’s been kind of a struggle for me this season, so to get one on the barrel that last at-bat boosts my confidence. It was a great feeling that I haven’t had much of this year. I’m hoping to continue to have success and see how the rest of the season goes.”
Carter followed with a single, driving in Lucas Steele and Belyeu to make it 9-0.
In the eighth, Marcel Kulik relieved Alvarez and worked around a hit batter and a walk to pitch a scoreless frame.
In the bottom of the inning, Rembert hit his third home run of the season over the left-field wall, putting the run rule into effect and securing a 10-0 victory for Auburn.
The Tigers will continue their road trip this weekend, traveling to Tuscaloosa to face rival Alabama. Game 1 of the three-game series is set for 6 p.m. CDT on Friday night, and Jake Marciano is expected to start.
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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
