Auburn blanks UAB 4-0 for 7th shutout

AUBURN | Some timely hitting and a strong performance by Gabe Klobosits led Auburn to a 4-0 win over UAB Tuesday at Plainsman Park.

Klobosits pitched 6.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen allowing six hits, issuing one walk and striking out three. He didn’t figure into the decision as designated starter Andrew Mitchell (3-0) earned the win throwing a perfect first.

“It felt great. It’s a good confidence boost for me and for the team just to know that I can pitch, actually, and nothing’s wrong. I’m healthy,” Klobosits said. “It’s a great confidence boost going into SEC play.”

Ryan Watson was perfect in the eighth and ninth to give the Tigers their NCAA-leading seventh shutout of the season.

“Gabe’s first inning was kind of like his stat sheet where he had thrown like seven innings, had 15 hits and there were four hard-hit barrels,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “He got out of it and I said, ‘We need to make an adjustment.’

“He started throwing a little bit across his body to right-handers. He had an eight right-handed hitting lineup today and he really started getting some ground ball action. To throw six innings is huge for him.”

All four of Auburn’s runs came with two outs. Blake Logan doubled home two in the first, Luke Jarvis doubled home one and then scored on a pinch-hit single by Conor Davis in the sixth.

Jarvis and Bowen McGuffin had two hits apiece for the Tigers.

Auburn, which improved to 13-5, hosts Jacksonville State Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT. Florida visits this weekend for the start of conference play.

GAME NOTES

** Auburn has not allowed an earned run since giving up seven in the ninth inning of an 11-8 loss to Presbyterian Friday, a streak of 27 consecutive innings.

** Klobosits’ performance dropped his ERA from 7.04 to 3.95. Before Tuesday, he had thrown two pitches since Feb. 28.

** Mitchell hadn’t pitched since Feb. 26 due to tendonitis in his throwing shoulder.

** Daniel Robert finished 0-of-4 to end a 32-game on-base streak and Jonah Todd was 0-of-4 to end a 17-game on-base streak.