Auburn, Ala. (EETV) - Another strong offensive night for Auburn against Florida State allows them an opportunity to go to the NCAA Super Regionals needing just one win in the next two games. Auburn put up another double-digit run game to beat the Seminoles, 21-7.
Auburn tied the SEC record for most runs in the first two games of the NCAA tournament with 40.
“Another positive night for us. There’s so many guys contributing in so many ways” said Head Coach Butch Thompson. "The guys won a significant game tonight to put us in a position to win the regional championship.”
Yet again, the Tigers struck first with a run in the second inning by Brody Moore from a Mike Bello sacrifice fly. In the third inning, Brooks Carlson sent a ball over the green monster in Plainsman Park for a two-run homer and the early 3-0 lead.
The Seminoles got a run back in the bottom of the third with a double from Alex Toral to bring in Logan Lacey.
In the fourth, Auburn expanded their lead by seven. Florida State shuffled between three pitchers during the inning for three outs, with all three coming from the final pitcher of the inning.
But the damage had been done; the Tigers scored seven runs before the 'Noles could get an out. A couple of errors by Florida State opened the game up for the Tigers to let their red-hot offense loose.
At the top of the fifth, Auburn added another run to their tally to go up by 10 with a triple from Moore to bring in Sonny DiChiara.
Moore led the Tigers in hitting, going 5-for-5 with five RBIs. DiChiara also had an impressive night with five runs in his five at-bats including a home run to left field. Kason Howell also got going tonight with four hits in his five at-bats.
“I think hitting is contagious. It's fun when we’re all linking up out there." said Moore on their hitting during the regional. "Moving it down the lineup is something that is fun to play with.”
Auburn tacked on four more in the seventh inning thanks to poor pitching, two walks and two hit-by-pitches, and an error. Florida State finished the seventh with a three-run shot from Treyton Rank, bringing the deficit to eleven, heading to the eighth.
After a five-run ninth inning for the Tigers, Auburn held a 14 run lead going into the final frame for the Seminoles.
Auburn’s starting pitcher Joseph Gonzalez pitched a great game for the Tigers, recording three strikeouts and allowing one run in six innings compared to his All-ACC counterpart, Bryce Hubbart, who threw for 2.1 innings and gave up four hits and three runs (two earned runs).
“I try to get the ground balls and [the defense] will make the play." said Gonzalez. "I trust them a lot.”
Throughout the game, the Seminoles struggled with errors finishing with four on the night. All led to a run scored on the same play or later in the inning.
Auburn will face the winner of UCLA vs. Florida State tomorrow at 6 PM CT. The UCLA/Florida State game is at 1 PM CT tomorrow. With a win, Auburn will head to its fourth Super Regional appearance. With a loss, Auburn will trot back out for a rematch on Monday to decide who will advance.
