AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) – In a game that saw a six-run comeback, 42 combined hits and three innings of extra baseball, the Auburn Tigers (13-3-1) picked up a 12-11 win over the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (13-4, 2-1 ACC) in 12 innings. The exciting game was capped off by a walk-off single by Brody Wortham that allowed Justin Kirby to score.
“I took one pitch to kind of just get a feel because I had been over on the sideline for a while, but I was looking for something middle-away and got a fastball on the outer half,” Wortham said. “As soon as it hit the bat, I knew it was through and I knew Kirby was scoring, no doubt.
Eight different pitchers saw action for Auburn. Tommy Vail got the start and give up one run off of one hit and struck one batter out. Konner Copeland came in and had a less-than-ideal outing, allowing five runs off of six hits and striking out one batter in 1.1 innings of work. Chase Allsup came in to clean up the mess, finishing the third inning by giving up three runs off of four hits. John Armstrong got things turned around, however, allowing one run off of three hits in one inning of work. Trevor Horne was next, going for 1.2 innings that also saw one run off of three hits. Will Cannon tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, only allowing one hit. Tanner Bauman threw two scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Chase Isbell picked up the win for the Tigers for two innings of work that saw one hit and two strikeouts.
Georgia Tech’s bullpen also had a busy night as the Yellowjackets used seven pitchers. Ben King got the start, allowing four runs off of six hits, walking two batters and striking two out in 2.2 innings of work. Cody Carwile ended up taking the loss in a 2.2-inning effort that saw three hits, one walk, five strikeouts and the run that lost the game for the Yellowjackets.
Georgia Tech got off to a hot start. A double from Nicholas Romano that scored Jackson Finley put the Yellowjackets up 7-0 in the third inning.
Auburn made some noise in the bottom of the third inning. A Caden Green single that scored Gavin Miller cut the deficit to three.
The Yellowjackets put some padding on their lead in the fourth inning. Drew Compton singled to left field to score Angelo Dispigna and Jake DeLeo. Kristian Campbell reached on an infield single to score Compton.
The bottom of the sixth inning was when the game started to change. A Josh Hall single that scored Miller and Bryson Ware capped off a five-run inning for the Tigers and tied the game at 11.
Wortham came up in the bottom of the 12th inning with two outs. His single that scored Kirby marked the 42nd combined hit in Auburn’s walk-off victory.
“We went through the entire season last year without losing three ball games in a row, so we showed some resolve to hang in there tonight,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “We’re trying to just stay focused on the process. To hang in there against a quality ball club and find a way to win, we’ll take it.”
Auburn will be back in action this weekend as the Tigers kick off conference play with a three-game set with the Arkansas Razorbacks (14-2). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
