MONTGOMERY, Ala. (EETV)- The Tigers travelled to Montgomery on Tuesday to take on one of their in-state rivals, the South Alabama Jaguars. Despite trailing in the all-time series 50-30, the Tigers had no problem handing the Jags the loss.
The first points of the game came from the Jags who capitalized on an error and hit a two-run homer in the first inning to gain a 2-0 lead. However, the Tigers responded quickly and went right to work at home plate. Eric Snow led off with a single on the first pitch, followed by an Ike Irish bomb over center right field, and a solo home run by Cooper McMurray giving Auburn a 3-2 lead heading into the second.
Jett Johnson started the second and third innings at the mound for the Tigers and held the Jaguars scoreless, improving his record to 4-0 on the season.
The Tigers added five more runs in the second inning. Cade Belyeu drove a ball over right field on the first pitch for a two-run homer after Deric Fabian walked. Bristol Carter was hit by a pitch leading to three straight singles by Snow, Irish, and McMurray. Auburn also capitalized on a throwing error from Lucas Steele, extending the lead.
The pitching carousel continued for Auburn as Ben Schorr and Abe Chancellor made their seasons debuts and held the Jaguars scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Jaguars scored again in the sixth, after freshman pitcher Saxon Roberts walked three batters and gave up a double, cutting the Tigers' lead to 9-4. However, Auburn quickly responded with three consecutive singles and a sacrificial fly ball from Bristol Carter, extending the lead to 6 runs.
Ike Irish continued his dominant performance, hitting his second home run of the game – his second multi-homer game in the last three. Auburn's final points came in the eighth inning off a sacrificial fly ball by Eric Snow.
John Armstrong finished the seventh inning with his second scoreless inning, and junior Hayden Murphy closed out the game for the Tigers with the final score 13-5.
Auburn will travel to Athens on Friday to take on No. 2 Georgia in a three-game series.
