GW earns split with 9th-inning rally

AUBURN | The Tigers couldn’t close out George Washington in the ninth.

The Colonials roughed up Auburn relievers Daniel Sprinkle and Ryan Watson for five runs on six hits in the ninth inning to rally for a 9-5 win at Plainsman Park and split a doubleheader.

“We needed to see these guys in the moment, we did and we’ll adjust moving forward,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “I wanted this to be a boost moment for (Sprinkle). He’ll get some more opportunities and I just love how hard he works.

“That was just an example of where he needs to go and a couple of things he needs to keep growing at if he wants to be in there.”

Auburn, which won Saturday’s first game 2-0, falls to 2-1 on the season.

Sprinkle (0-1) allowed four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings while Watson allowed a run on two hits in 0.2 innings.

Dylan Ingram finished 2-of-3, driving in two runs in the third on a two-out double and another in the fifth on a two-out single. Jonah Todd added a two-out, pinch-hit RBI-single in the fifth.

Jay Estes was 3-of-5 including a two-out RBI-single in the eighth that gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead going into the ninth.

Auburn starter Gabe Klobosits allowed two runs on five hits in 4.0 innings. Calvin Coke threw 2.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits before turning it over to Sprinkle in the seventh with two outs.

George Washington, which was shutout by Auburn in its first two games, finished with 14 hits including four doubles.

The series will conclude Sunday at noon and will be available for streaming on SECN+ and Watch ESPN.

“Tomorrow will be huge for us to get behind Davis Daniel for the fourth game and instead of trying to split, trying to win a series 3-1,” Thompson said.

GAME NOTES

** Auburn played 12 position players and four pitchers. “I think it’s a very important time for me not to go, ‘Whoa is me, here we go again,’ when I don't think that’s the case at all,” Thompson said. “Being a strong leader and giving these boys an opportunity makes them better for the next time, but also helps us line up what we need to do for the next time.”

** Auburn left 11 runners on base including six by Bo Decker, who finished 0-of-4 in the game with one walk. Decker is off to a slow start this season going 0-of-9 with four walks.

** Auburn committed its first error of the season in the seventh when shortstop Luke Jarvis scooped up a ground ball but his throw to first was low and Daniel Robert wasn’t able to scoop it up. The runner would eventually come around to score to tie the game at 4-4.

** Fifteen of Auburn’s outs were on fly balls or popups. The bottom of the order (batters 6-9) finished 1-of-15.