Tigers sweep the Crusaders
AUBURN | Auburn erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to beat Holy Cross 13-4 Sunday and complete a three-game sweep.
The first sweep since talking all three from Georgia in April of 2015 improves the Tigers to 7-1 on the season, their best start since 2007. Auburn beat the Crusaders 7-0 Friday and 4-0 Saturday.
“I thought we were exposed in a lot of areas of the ballgame that we have to get better with moving forward,” said Butch Thompson of a game in which Auburn committed two errors, left 11 runners on base and gave up 11 hits.
“But I am thankful for a sweep. A sweep is special, especially at home and especially moving forward. Hopefully this isn’t our last sweep of the year.”
Auburn’s eight-run fifth came on six hits and one error as the Tigers sent 12 batters to the plate. Jonah Todd had an RBI single, Blake Logan hit a sacrifice fly, Will Holland drove in two more with a home run over the left field wall, and Jay Estes had two hits in the inning including a two-RBI double.
“I tried to put a good swing on it and hit it hard. It went far enough,” said Holland of his first-career home run.
Estes finished 3-of-6 with two RBI and Daniel Robert 2-of-5 with two RBI. Mike Rojas had two hits off the bench. Holland was 1-of-4 with three RBI.
Andrew Mitchell (2-0) earned the win allowing one hit and striking out one in 0.2 innings out of the bullpen. Auburn starter Davis Daniel gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Auburn returns to action Tuesday against Samford at Plainsman Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
** Josh Anthony had two fielding errors at third base on a pair of ground balls, his first errors of the season. “He retreated on the first one and retreated on the second. Hopefully, that’s something we can fix immediately because I believe in Josh,” Thompson said. “He got in-between hopped on both of them.”
** Thompson rested three of his regular starters Sunday in shortstop Luke Jarvis, left fielder Bo Decker and designated hitter Dylan Ingram. Their replacements — Holland, Gillikin and Conor Davis — finished a combined 2-of-10 with three runs scored and four RBI.
** Holland, a true freshman who has played second base and shortstop, is hitting .375 with a double, home run and three RBI in four games this season.
** Auburn used a total of seven pitchers Sunday. Calvin Coker allowed a run in 1.0 innings, Ryan Watson no runs in 1.0 innings, Christian Camacho no runs in 1.0 innings, Welby Malczewski one run in 0.2 innings and Trevor Hillhouse no runs in 0.1 innings.