AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) -- The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry added another chapter to its story this weekend when the Auburn Tigers took two out of three from the Georgia Bulldogs in Plainsman Park this past week.
LHP Zach Crotchfelt got the Tigers' nod and got off to a rough start, giving up three runs in the first inning. Georgia center fielder Ben Anderson led off the game with a double off the top of the monster in left, before being driven in by Charlie Condon.
Parks Harper did the most damage for the Bulldogs early, launching a two-run home run over the monster to give Georgia a 3-0 lead.
Auburn looked threatening in the bottom of the second inning after Chris Stanfield hustled from first to third on a Nate LaRue single to center. Cade Green worked a full count before ending the inning with a fly out to left.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the top of the third inning when Connor Tate launched a solo HR to left on an 0-2 count. After loading the bases with one out in the inning, Auburn made a call to the bullpen for RHP Christian Herberholz.
Herberholz limited the damage, allowing only one run to score, giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the third when Justin Kirby scored on a pop-up that landed in no man's land behind first base. Bobby Pierce could not keep the inning alive with runners on the corners as he flew out to center to end the inning.
Caden Green picked up another RBI this season in the bottom of the fourth inning, driving in Nate LaRue from second. The Tigers loaded the bases late in the inning but were unable to convert.
Parks Harper got the Bulldogs started in the top of the fifth with a rocket double into left-center field. Will David picked up an RBI knocking in Harper with a line-drive single into center. That would be the end of Herberholz’s afternoon.
The Tigers would call on RHP Parker Carlson. After a Bryson Ware error at third and a walk by Carlson, Georgia had the bases loaded with just one out. The Bulldog’s nine hitter, Mason LaPlante, cashed in, driving in two runs with a line-drive into
right.
Cole Foster would make a web for the third out of the fifth inning, ranging to his right to make a Derek Jeter jump throw to get the runner at first. Ike Irish made the athletic play at first to secure the out.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers would threaten again with runners on second and third with one out. Pinch hitter Cooper McMurray would drive in the runners with a two-RBI double into right field, cutting the Georgia lead down to 8-4.
Ike Irish made his catching debut for Auburn in the sixth inning, after McMurry pinch-hit for LaRue.
“Irish is probably the catcher of the future, and that happened for the first time today,” coach Butch Thompson said.
Bryson Ware put a baseball into orbit in the bottom of the sixth inning. The three-run home run drove in Howell, who worked a leadoff walk, and Foster, who hit a double into left-center field. This would cut the Auburn deficit to 6-7.
The close game did not last long, as the Bulldogs scored 16 runs on eight hits in the eighth inning. Georgia would bring 19 batters to the plate, batting around twice in the inning.
The Georgia Bulldogs would avoid the sweep and run-rule the Tigers 24-7 in eight innings. This is Georgia’s first win in SEC play this season.
“We have to keep growing. I wish we could have finished stronger in the ballgame. Thankful to win the series,” coach Thompson said.
The Tigers will be back in action at Plainsman Park on Tuesday, versus the North Alabama Lions, who have struggled since the start of March. The first pitch will be at 6 p.m.
