The No. 18 Auburn Tigers (30-12) (11-7 SEC) travelled to Jacksonville State (18-20) (11-7 ASUN) with a six-game win streak in their sails, the Tigers were of course looking for their seventh win, to boast confidence going into the heavyweight matchup against No. 1 Tennessee this weekend, and as Head Coach Butch Thompson said “This was a good win for us," as the Tigers picked the win 8-4, thanks to a combination of Brody Moore’s hitting and an amazing defensive displays from Kason Howell.
The game started off slow as both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings Thanks in part to a robbed two-run homerun from Kason Howell, but Brody Moore brought an end to that with a single in the top of the fourth. Not to be outdone, Jacksonville States’ Carson Crowe hit a solo home run to tie the game back up at one apiece going into the fifth inning.
When asked about the robbed homerun Kason Howell said, “I actually worked on it during batting practice with Sonny because he's always hitting bombs and I think I got one off him.”
Auburn would begin to run away with it in the Fifth inning thanks in large part to a total of five hit-by-pitches and walks, and a Bobby Peirce single that brought the Tigers into a 6-1 lead. The Tigers would hold this lead throughout the game despite another home run from Carson Crowe and a 2-4 day from Mason Manners, but the final nail in the coffin came for the Gamecocks came in the form of an electric seventh inning in which a Brody Moore single and Nate LaRue Sac-fly brought the Tigers to an 8-4 win.
"I was just trying to stay true to my approach and let the chips fall where they may from there," Brody Moore said. "Our mindset one through nine in the lineup is to get on base and let the guy behind you handle the rest."
Mason Barnett got the start for the Tigers as he pitched the first three innings only giving up four hits and one earned run, meanwhile Konner Copeland got the win, his second of the year, after throwing 1.1 inning giving up three hits and two runs. Chase Allsup would contribute 2.2 innings while Carson Swilling finished the job, as they combined for three hits, and one run. The team combined for 15 strikeouts
The Tigers will be looking to carry the seven-game win streak momentum into their toughest challenge yet, the No. 1 team in the nation in Rocky Top. The Tigers will take on the Volunteers in a three-game series starting April 29th at 6:00 p.m. The series will test the Tigers as they head into the later part of the season, as they look to improve their seeding against teams which includes No. 2 Georgia, and Alabama before the SEC tournament on May 24th.
