Trace Bright on bouncing back from previous start: You try to learn from it and move on

There was more than one redemptive moment during Auburn baseball’s victory over Stanford. For one, the Tigers held off elimination with their 6-2 win. The other, though, was a return to form from pitcher Trace Bright.

During their Super Regional series against Oregon State, Bright was the starter for their first game. He struggled mightily as he gave up four runs in less than an inning long appearance. The Tigers would go on to win that game 7-5, but the performance left a sour taste in bright’s mouth.

Bright was able to make up for it yesterday with his efforts during the Tiger’s season-saving win. After the game, he talked about the importance of getting himself to the next game.

“You want to bounce back. That was a tough outing for me. But I endured that whole game,” said Bright. “My offense had my back that first game and we pulled it out. But you try and learn from it and move on.”

Luckily for Tigers fans, he moved on just in time. Bright threw 52 strikes for eight strikeouts through five innings. Although he gave up the Cardinal’s only two runs of the game, both came in the first two innings as they want scoreless the last seven. Bright didn’t let the early hole get to him, though, as he had faith in his teammates to help him finish the job like before.

“I wanted to get us off on the right foot but I had us behind the 8-ball for a few innings,” he said. “But like Kason said, once the offense got rolling I knew we were in a good place with the bullpen set up and how we were with that lead.”

If Auburn wants to keep their championship hopes alive, it’ll be all hands on deck. That includes Bright, whose back aboard after a bounce back performance. For he and his teammates to hold off elimination, they’ll need to handle business in their must-win game against Arkansas at 7 p.m. tonight on ESPN2.