Rob Vaughn on first taste of Alabama-Auburn rivalry: 'You learn really quick'

It took Rob Vaughn all of about five minutes to understand the importance of the in-state rivalry between Alabama and Auburn after visiting Plainsman Park for the first time as Crimson Tide head coach.

With the Tigers’ season likely coming to an end after the weekend given their 6-21 record in conference play this year, Auburn has nothing to lose during the rivalry series. Before chalking up any more tallies in the left-hand column, Vaughn explained why his team should respect Auburn at this point in the season.

“You learn really quick, how much this means to the state of Alabama,” Vaughn said during Thursday’s game. “And we knew this coming in and find a team we’re playing a team that, mathematically, their season ends here in a couple of days. And, you know, I think it goes one of two ways. We need to get the team that checks it in when that happens with a team that plays super free and goes out and plays good baseball, and I know Butch [Thompson] man, his team’s looking to check it in.

“So this is a big weekend for everybody in the states, a big weekend for our program.”

Auburn’s free-flowing play ended up being the case as the Tigers took a 2-0 lead after three innings. Tigers first baseman Cooper McMurray flied out to left center for a sac fly in the first inning to break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the first. Second baseman Caden Green brought home a run on a bang-bang fielder’s choice that went in the Tigers’ favor.

Auburn did get a run back in the fourth inning, however, as Crimson Tide third baseman Gage Miller singled to bring home a run. However, Alabama hasn’t been able to do much on offense despite collecting five hits to that point in the game.

As the Crimson Tide looks to mount the comeback down the stretch — the exciting finish to game one of the three-game series live on SEC Network Plus.

Regardless of the outcome, both squads will be back in action at 6 p.m. CT for Friday evening’s edition of the Iron Bowl on the diamond. Saturday’s game will follow with first pitch set for 5 p.m. CT before the Crimson Tide immediately turns its attention toward the postseason as the 2024 SEC Tournament is set to get underway on Tuesday, May 21 live in Hoover, Alabama.