Takeaways from Auburn's SEC Tournament win over Missouri
Auburn defeated Missouri, 10-4, to take "game four" of the series and head to the 2nd round of the SEC Tournament. What do you need to know about the contest?
Tommy Vail answered the call
The grad transfer, who was unable to take the ball for his scheduled start last Friday due to illness, took the mound to open the tournament. The effects of his illness were evident - Vail, who received IVs on Friday in order to pitch in relief on Saturday and lost twelve pounds through the ordeal, didn't quite look as sharp as usual. He sequenced the fastball and changeup combo well early, striking out the side in the 1st inning, but began to labor in subsequent innings. He finally departed the game in the 4th with two outs, giving way to Chase Isbell in relief.
For the outing, Vail was credited for 3.2 innings with two hits, four runs (two earned), four walks and five strikeouts. His stuff may not have been set on the tracks like usual, but his fire was there - there was some chirping between Mizzou and Vail as he exited the game, and he was giving as much as he got.
The freebies looked like they'd hurt Auburn early
Missouri picked up easy runs in both the 2nd and 4th innings thanks to those "freebies" that head coach Butch Thompson always talks about.
Back to back walks to open the 2nd gave Missouri a run after two sacrifice flies advanced and scored a runner, staking them to a 1-0 lead. After Auburn scored three runs in the bottom of the 3rd (and trust me, we'll get to that), Mizzou came back and took the lead in the 4th thanks to two defensive errors, three walks, and a missed strike three call by home plate umpire Kevin Sweeney.
But Auburn's bats had something to say about that
As they always do, Auburn battled. The Tigers did a good job of looking out over the plate, staying on offspeed, and shooting pitches to the opposite field. After a leadoff HBP of Kason Howell to open the 4th inning, Auburn worked their at-bats to get two runners on for freshman Chris Stanfield, who singled home a run.
Then, Postseason Cole Foster arrived.
The switch-hitting shortstop, who hit two homeruns in the same inning (from opposite sides of the plate) to open the Auburn Regional last year, did THIS to Missouri reliever Brock Lucas:
Trackman says it was only 416 feet (at 106 off the bat), but I'm guessing the radar lost it in the trees. Cole himself lost the ball, saying after the game "As soon as I hit it, I looked at my dugout and blacked out completely."
(And the analysis you're really here for: Check out the Foster celebration - Tommy Vail and his fire has hops)
Auburn went on to run away with this one, adding another homerun from - who else? - Bryson Ware to finish the matchup with eleven hits, eight of them being for extra bases (six doubles and two homeruns).
The homer was Ware's 22nd of the season, leaving him one homerun short of the single season program record of 23, set in 2010 by Hunter Morris.
Ike Irish, who went two for four with two doubles, is tied with Kason Howell for the season doubles lead, with 23 each. Howell, obviously, is the NCAA's active career doubles leader with 71 and is tied with Todd Faulkner (98-01) for the program record.
Let's recognize these Auburn pitchers, yeah?
Auburn only needed three pitchers to complete this game, with Tommy Vail and Chase Isbell being relieved by true freshman Zach Crotchfelt. The lefty went the final 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit and no runs, striking out four for his first collegiate save.
(Auburn was warming up Will Cannon to come in for the 9th inning, but sat him back down after Bryson Ware's homerun in the 8th inning pushed the lead to six runs.)
For the game, Auburn pitchers allowed six hits and four runs (two earned) with six walks and eleven strikeouts, all while facing a lineup for the fourth consecutive game.
So what's next for Auburn baseball?
Auburn advances to the double elimination second round of the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2019, taking on #4 seed Vanderbilt. It's the fourth game of the day, so prepare for more Auburn After Dark.
If Auburn defeats Vanderbilt, they'll face the winner of tomorrow's Florida (#1 seed) vs Alabama (#9 seed) matchup, and that will also be the last game on Thursday. If Auburn loses tomorrow night, they'll face the loser of that Florida/Alabama game at midday on Thursday, with the loser being eliminated from the tournament.
Other Auburn Baseball Stories
Auburn opens the SEC Tournament with a rematch against Missouri
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Ike Irish earns final SEC Freshman of the Week honor
SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Ranking all 12 teams in the SEC Tournament
How did Auburn baseball turn around their season? It's thanks to Daron Schoenrock
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