After a three-game sweep of #3 LSU, Auburn looked to extend its winning streak to six against Jacksonville State behind the arm of Chatterton. The Tigers also came into Tuesday’s game hoping for a quick no-worry game, as 16 of their last 19 games came against ranked opponents. Strengthened by Chatterton’s 18-up, 18-down start and Steele’s go-ahead ninth-inning homer, Auburn got that much-needed win, defeating Jacksonville State 4-3.
Feeding off Chatterton’s hot start, Auburn took advantage of the Gamecock defense in the fourth. Chris Rembert started the inning with one of the team’s six singles before Ike Irish hit the second of his two Fielder’s choice outs for the night. Then, the next five singles were hit in successive order by McMurray, Terrell, Guevara, Belyeu, and Fralick, which scored the inning’s three runs, but two outstanding defensive plays quickly stopped Auburn’s momentum.
Chatterton continued his perfect night as he entered the seventh with eight strikeouts; unfortunately, that was exactly when the defense began to falter. With Jacksonville getting their first hit of the night on an infield single followed by an error to Deric Fabian, the tide started to turn behind the Gamecocks, forcing Chatterton to retire for the night. Jackson Sanders would come in and go ⅔ of an inning, but the Gamecocks would get the damage started, getting Collins across to make it 3-1.
Two walks and a wild pitch by Jett Johnston would score one more for Jacksonville State, but he would get the final out of the inning. The Gamecocks' pressure ramped up to a tipping point in the bottom of the eighth as Drew Collins’ solo homer put all the pressure on an ice-cold Auburn offense.
Lucas Steele would respond to that pressure with his fourth homer of the year to put the Tigers up 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Jacksonville couldn’t respond in the bottom of the ninth as Ben Schorr got his first win of the season in the bottom of the ninth.
Auburn will have a quick turnaround as they head to Austin to face #1 Texas in a three-game series starting Thursday. That game will be broadcast on SECN+.
