No. 14 Auburn links up in run-rule victory vs. Wichita State

Courtesy of Auburn Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 14 Auburn scored four or more runs in four of the first six innings en route to a 19-8 run-rule victory against Wichita State Saturday afternoon at 121 Financial Ballpark.

“The guys came out ready to play, the offense was ready to play,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “They set the stage, and that’s what you’re supposed to do. It allowed Cooper McMurray to get a big swing off. We were just focused every inning on our at-bats. Through five innings, that was about as good as this group has played together.”

The offense scored a season-high 19 runs on 11 hits and drew 16 walks to go along with a hit batter. Six players reached base three or more times, and the top three hitters in the lineup in Cooper Weiss, Ike Irish and Bobby Peirce scored a combined 10 runs.

“Top to bottom, everybody is contributing,” Thompson added. “When the bottom of the lineup, even if they’re not getting a bunch of hits but they’re getting on base, that flips the lineup. It seemed like every inning you had Irish, McMurray and Peirce coming to the plate.”

McMurray got things started in the top of the first with a mammoth grand slam to right field, marking Auburn’s fourth home run in its last three innings dating back to the end of last night’s game. The home run was McMurray’s second of the season, and the first baseman drove in a career-high six runs in the game.

“Honestly, I was just looking for a fastball over the plate,” McMurray said of his mindset in the first. “He left one over the middle pretty good and thankfully I was able to put a good swing on it.

“It’s an awesome feeling, but whatever helps the team,” McMurray added. “If that helps the team, I’ll gladly do that all year long.”

Bobby Peirce collected a team-high three hits, including a two-run homer for the second straight game, and drove in three runs. The Tigers ultimately sent 34 batters to the plate and saw 157 pitches in the first four innings.

“That’s a good win to get,” Peirce said. “We had a late night last night and got right back out here this morning and were able to put some run up quick and do the job. Once the game got going we clicked it into gear and were off.”

Weiss set the tone from the start, winning a nine-pitch at-bat with a leadoff double. Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases and McMurray sent the first pitch he saw well over the wall in right field for a grand slam. Chris Stanfield made it five straight to reach with a single to right, advanced all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a balk to make it 5-0 right out of the gate.

Auburn sent nine batters to the plate and got 38 pitches out of Wichita State starter Tommy LaPour in the first, and the Tigers stayed on him to start the second as Peirce hit his second homer in as many games in Jacksonville, this one a two-run shot to make it 7-0.

Wichita State struck for a three-run homer in the bottom of the second, but Auburn got the runs back and then some with a four-run third. Irish and McMurray shot RBI singles to left center, while Peirce drove in his third run of the game on a ground ball to second and Chris Stanfield lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

Joseph Gonzalez settled after the three-run homer in the second and set down the Shockers in order on 12 pitches in the third, and the Tigers continued to score early and often with four runs in the top of the fourth. Weiss drove in the first run of the frame with a grounder to short, and Cale Stricklin later scored on a wild pitch. McMurray drove in his sixth run of the game on a base-loaded walk, and Stanfield hit another sacrifice fly to center to make it 15-3.

Gonzalez (2-0, 3.00) earned the win in 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The win was Gonzalez’ second straight to start the season and the 12th of his career.

Auburn went to the bullpen to start the fifth, and the Shockers sent eight batters to the plate in the frame, scoring three runs on five hits. However, the Tigers responded again with its fourth inning of four or more runs in the game. Cade Belyeu hit a sacrifice fly to center to start the scoring in the frame, marking the first career RBI for the Auburn native, and Deric Fabian cleared the bases with a double off the wall in right to extend the lead to 19-6 and cap off the Tigers scoring in the contest.

Wichita State scored a run in each of its last two at-bats, but the margin was far too much to overcome.

The Tigers wrap up the weekend in Jacksonville with a 3 p.m. CT first pitch vs. No. 10 Virginia (5-0) Sunday.