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AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn baseball team struck for six early runs and then held off Morehead State, 7-3, Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers, who were swept at home by rival Alabama last weekend, improved to 33-20 overall. The Eagles, who have still won eight of their last 10 games, fell to 33-19 overall. It was the final 2015 non-conference tilt for MSU.
"Outside of two innings, I thought we pitched the ball awfully well tonight," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "We knew they struggle to score runs, so we didn't want to give them too many free bases. So, it was unfortunate we gave up two walks to start the second inning, and then they strung together a few hits."
Auburn third baseman Alex Polston nailed a two-out, two-run double in the second inning off MSU starter Patrick McGuff. Tiger right fielder Damon Haecker and shortstop Cody Nulph contributed RBI singles in the third, and catcher Blake Logan drilled a run-scoring double in the four-run outburst.
The Eagles scored runs in the third, sixth and ninth innings. Sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Wright crushed a triple off the "green monster" wall in left field and scored on freshman second baseman Braxton Morris' sacrifice fly in the third.
"I was a little disappointed in our lack of urgency at the plate early in the game," McGuire added. "I think we swung the bats a little better than the scoreboard indicated, but that's baseball. Sometimes you hit it hard and the other team is standing right there. This is the type of club we'll have to face if we play in an NCAA Regional."
Senior first baseman Kane Sweeney connected on his team-best 12
th home run of the year and 27
th of his career in the sixth. That blast extended his team-best reached-base streak to 29 games.
Auburn starting right-hander Robby Clements, who tossed 5.2 innings and gave up just six hits, improved to 5-0.
McGuff surrendered six runs and seven hits in three frames and fell to 1-2. Freshman Aaron Leasher and junior Matt Anderson also saw mound time for Morehead State. Leasher tossed the middle three frames and did not allow a hit, while Anderson held the hosts hitless for the final two stanzas.
"It was encouraging to see Aaron and Matt pitch the ball like they did tonight," McGuire added.
The home team generated seven hits, with center fielder Anfernee Grier the lone man in double digits. He was 2-for-3. Morehead State totaled nine hits. Sophomore center fielder Ryan Kent finished 3-for-5. Senior right fielder Brandon Rawe and Wright collected two hits each.
Morehead State returns home for the final Ohio Valley Conference series this week. The Eagles entertain Murray State, beginning with a 4 p.m. ET contest Thursday.
"We certainly have a lot to play for against Murray State," McGuire said. "It's a great situation that we control our own destiny, so we have to come out every game and play like we're capable of. We can lock up the two-seed (for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament), but it is not out of the realm of possibility that we can still get the top seed and be OVC Champions. That was one of the goals we set at the beginning of the season."
