Takeaways from Auburn baseball's midweek victory over North Alabama
Auburn baseball defeated North Alabama 14-1 in seven innings on Tuesday in Plainsman Park. Here's what you need to know from the run rule victory.
"Nelly Shove Day" was a roaring success
True freshman Drew Nelson got the start, and decided to be selfish - he was the only pitcher Auburn used in the contest.
Nelson put up the longest start for an Auburn starter this season, going seven innings with only three hits, one run, and one walk to seven strikeouts on 93 pitches (62 strikes). The previous record holder was Tommy Vail, who went 5.2 innings versus UAB on March 7th.
At one point in the game, Nelson retired 15 consecutive batters, absolutely in cruise control. Mostly skipping the breaking balls, Nelson worked the fastball/changeup combo to most batters, dropping the changeup about ten mph below his 89-90 mph fastball. Changing locations and velocities was enough for Nelson, on a night when he wasn't really interested in using the breaking ball, to get the job done against UNA.
Said head coach Butch Thompson after the game, "I got a good friend that likes to say 'confidence comes from acquiring skill' - and this is great skill that Drew Nelson got. He got into that autopilot, got into that flow of a game that he's been searching for since Opening Weekend. To see him keep working on his craft , build back up, and then get another opportunity to start... Did a great job last week in the midweek, now this week. A really great job by him."
The bats came alive early
Auburn batted around in the 1st inning, putting up six runs on five hits (including a leadoff homer from SS Cole Foster). The free baserunners really came back to bite North Alabama in this one, as three batters were walked in the 1st (Bryson Ware intentionally) and all three came around to score.
Foster, Ware, and Irish all homered in the contest for Auburn, with Ware hitting his team-leading 12th and extending his RBI lead to six (31) over Ike Irish and Justin Kirby (25). Irish added three additional hits, including a double (his SEC-leading 14th) to finish 4-5 with three runs scored with five RBIs. Foster went three for five, adding one RBI and scoring three runs.
Every Auburn starter reached base at least once in the contest, and all but Kason Howell recorded hits, with 13 hits and 10 walks collected by the Tigers over the seven innings.
Injured players back in the field
Auburn finally saw the defensive returns of Cooper McMurray (foot) and Bobby Pierce (hamstring) to the starting lineup, with the duo retaking their positions of first base and left field, respectively. The lineup change forced Ike Irish back to DH duties and required outfielder Chris Stanfield to return to the bench, something that Auburn's undoubtedly going to work to avoid as they prepare to resume SEC play this weekend - Stanfield's third amongst qualified hitters (averaging 2 PA/G and 75% of games played) with a .305 average in his 16 starts over the last 20 games. The freshman's collected six extra base hits over that span, including two triples, and has flashed the speed both in the outfield and on the basepaths.
This coaching staff's undoubtedly preparing Ike Irish to catch this weekend in Florida so that Kirby can move to DH and Stanfield can rejoin the lineup.
What's next?
Auburn baseball's back after it in SEC action this weekend, making the trip to Gainesville to face #2 Florida. Game times for the weekend series are 5:30PM (Friday and Saturday) and noon (Sunday) and all three games are available for streaming on SEC Network+. The radio call, with Brad Law and Andy Burcham, is available locally on 93.9FM and online voa auburntigers.com and the Auburn Athletics App.
Related Stories
Philip Montgomery is one of the most interesting coordinator hires in the SEC
Auburn football's projected 2023 depth chart
BREAKING: Auburn RHP Joseph Gonzalez to miss up to six more weeks with shoulder injury
Five players Auburn basketball could grab out of the transfer portal
Hugh Freeze on playing Georgia and Alabama: 'The expectation is we're walking out there to win it'
Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!