Another sweep for the Tigers
AUBURN | No. 25 Auburn keeps rolling right along.
The Tigers beat BYU 21-4 and 9-5 Saturday to sweep the doubleheader and the series. Auburn improves to 12-0, the third-best start in school history behind 2001's 13-0 and 1997's 17-0 starts.
The Tigers out-scored BYU 34-12 in the three-game series.
“We’ve just got keep up the good work, keep a chip on our shoulder and keep playing hard because this is a special time in our program,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said.
“I just see guys playing. Will we get to a point where we start thinking we’re good? Every team usually gets to that. But even through this last out today in the ballgame, I just see our guys wanting to have good at-bats and not getting tired of it.”
Auburn built an early 8-1 lead in game two with three in the third inning and five more in the fourth. Luke Jarvis, Steven Williams and Brendan Venter had three hits apiece. Venter had an RBI single in the third, Jarvis drove home two with a triple in the fourth and Williams singled home another in the fourth.
Conor Davis had an RBI single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Williams added an RBI double in the seventh.
Auburn starter Tanner Burns (2-0) earned the win holding BYU to a run on four hits in 5.0 innings. The freshman struck out four and issued two walks.
The Cougars jumped on Peyton Glavine and Corey Herndon for three runs in the sixth but Cody Greenhill came on with the bases loaded and two outs and struck out BYU’s three-hole hitter Keaton Kringlen on three pitches.
Greenhill earned his second save of the season holding the Cougars to one run on five hits over the final 3.1 innings.
Auburn pounded out 20 hits in game one including eight doubles and a pinch-hit grand slam by freshman Edouard Julien in the seventh inning. The Tigers also drew 12 walks, bouncing back from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the first inning with seven runs in the bottom of the first, six runs in the second, three in the fifth and five in the seventh.
Game two starter Davis Daniel got knocked around for three runs on three hits in the first before settling down and holding the Cougars to three hits and a run over the next five innings.
“I thought those middle innings, two, three and four were better innings for him,” Thompson said. “He started pitching and got his changeup going a little bit.”
Daniel (2-0) earned the win allowing four runs in 6.0 innings with five strikeouts and two walks. The sophomore rested his arm in the fall and missed a couple of weeks of preseason practice with an injury to his side.
“Missing a couple of weeks right before the season started, that was the bigger one for me because I had been working really hard to get to the beginning of the spring, but I think we’re starting to figure some things out and ready to get it rolling,” Daniel said.
Jack Owen, another freshman, earned his first-career save holding BYU to two hits and no runs over the final 3.0 innings.
Williams, a freshman, and Venter finished the doubleheader 6-of-9. Williams had four RBI and Venter three. Luke Jarvis was 4-of-8 with four RBI.
“We’re in a great spot,” Venter said. “We’re seeing a lot of pitches. I don’t think we struck out very much today. Competing with two strikes, making the pitcher throw more pitches, getting on base anyway we can — I think we’re rolling offensively right now so it’s exciting to see.”
Auburn returns to action Tuesday at UAB. First pitch at Regions Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on CUSA-TV.