AUBURN | No. 20 Auburn is riding a 10-game winning streak heading into Wednesday night’s game against UAB.

But the Tigers are nowhere close to being a finished product. One area that needs immediate attention is the pitching and defense late in games.

In Saturday’s 8-7 win over No. 8 Oregon State, Parker Carlson gave up a two-run home run in the eighth inning and Hayden Murphy allowed two runs in the ninth on a walk, two hits and a passed ball.

Jett Johnston was able to come in and get the last two outs.

In Sunday’s 7-4 win over Baylor, Dylan Watts gave up a two-run home run in the eighth and Ryan Hetzler an unearned run in the ninth. Second baseman Chris Rembert had fielding errors in the eighth and ninth.

“I’m excited for our players to play good and win, but I’ve got to find a way for us to learn a few things. There were some vulnerable moments,” AU coach Butch Thompson told the Auburn Network.

“We gave up five home runs the last two days and two almost home runs late in the (Baylor) game. And they were inner-half pitches with a fastball. It doesn’t matter if you throw 96 or 100, guys at this level or going to be able to get to it. You really want the opposition to have to beat you the other way. We’re still working through some of that and routine plays on defense.”

First pitch at Regions Field is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

SETTING THE TONE: Senior Samuel Dutton got the Tigers off to a great start Friday in Arlington shutting out Ohio State for 6.0 innings with two hits and a career-high nine strikeouts. It carried over to Sunday when freshman Christian Chatterton held Baylor to one run on two hits in 5.0 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. “When Sam Dutton goes out there Friday and has a performance like that, I think it kinda sets a tone for the rest of the staff throughout the weekend,” said Chatterton.

FRESHMAN BATS: Auburn outscored its four opponents 43-19 last week batting .333 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 38 RBI. The Tigers rank among the leaders in the SEC with a .338 average (3rd), 107 runs scored (4th) and 132 hits (5th). Rembert was SEC Co-Freshman of the Week batting .385 with two home runs and 10 RBI. Freshman Chase Fralick leads AU batting .474.

“Everything Gabe (Gross) preaches is consistency in attacking everything we do,” said Fralick. “So that’s what we go out there and do every single day. We do our best to keep the same routine and go out there and execute the game plan. When we can go ahead and follow his lead, good things usually work out.”

OWNING IT: Throughout much of his coaching career, Thompson has worked with pitchers and catchers to call their own game. That changed last year with AU’s season-long struggles on the mound. It’s changed back this season and that includes a talented group of freshmen arms.

“That’s been our hallmark,” said Thompson. “Even if they’re a freshman or how many innings they’ve been with us, we spent the whole time from August to now teaching them how to call their own game and run their own show. I think there’s a lot of conviction and ownership and I’m seeing that on the field.”