Blake Burkhalter reveals mindset before big seventh-inning strikeout with bases loaded

When Stanford loaded the bases in the seventh inning Monday, Auburn made a change, bringing in Blake Burkhalter out of the bullpen. The tying run was at the plate, meaning one swing could’ve turned a 6-2 Tigers lead into a tie game.

With a 3-2 count — and the threat of walking in a run looming — Burkhalter managed to strike Brett Barrera out, ending the threat and the inning. But that was a big spot, and he talked about how he got into the right mindset to make such a huge pitch.

“When I was coming in … you know the bases are loaded but you have to flush it,” Burkhalter said. “Your main focus is that first guy out of the pen. That’s what we focus on as a bullpen, and coming in there and being able to command some pitches.

“I don’t think I had my fastball command all day, but the cutter was working and the change-up was working and that’s what I had to lean on. I got, I think it was a 3-2 count. I was right on the brink of walking him, but thankfully I had that strikeout and got us off the field.”

Auburn held on for the 6-2 win, eliminating Stanford and advancing in the College World Series field. The Tigers will now get ready to take on Arkansas Wednesday in Omaha.

Butch Thompson breaks down how ‘goofy’ baseball gave Auburn an edge

After beating Stanford and avoiding elimination, Auburn coach Butch Thompson explained how a “goofy” fifth inning helped his team. The Tigers were down 2-0 early and still scoreless until the sixth inning when a huge double from Cole Foster cleared the bases and gave his team the lead.

It was the fifth inning though, according to Thompson, that set the stage for that offensive explosion.

“My favorite offensive inning was the fifth inning,” Thompson said, in part. “I think Brody [Brooks Carlson hit the leadoff double] got a ground ball to the 6 hole. We finally got to a hit-and-run approach. Scrapping our at-bats. We had five 3-2 counts and we lost them. I know we had an eight-pitch at-bat by Rambusch to start the game, and the full counts we couldn’t win.

“I was tired of watching us sitting there having at-bats; so we did some goofy stuff. Bunted a ball too hard for the first out. We did a first-and-third, and we delayed too much from leaving at third. And it made me happy. It was goofy baseball, but we scored four runs the next inning and it seems like we got each other’s attention.”