Auburn baseball picks up run-rule victory over UNA
A complete game from Drew Nelson helped the Auburn Tigers (17-7-1, 2-4 SEC) get past the North Alabama Lions (5-18) 14-1 in a run rule after 6.5 innings in the second meeting of the teams this season.
“We were locked in to start the game and just kept flipping the lineup,” head coach Butch Thompson said after Auburn’s win on Tuesday. “I’m excited about that lineup and excited about Drew Nelson and his growth. He’s kind of steadied himself, stayed in there and worked himself up the past few weeks.”
Nelson was the starter for Auburn the only arm the team used, pitching all seven innings and picking up his second win of the season. He only allowed one run off of three hits, walked one batter, and struck out seven.
“It feels good. I was able to prove myself a little bit,” Nelson said. “I’ve always known I’ve had it, and it has been showing up here recently.”
The Tigers’ offense got going early and never stopped as Cole Foster hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning. Auburn added five more runs in that frame and proceeded to score in every inning except for the fourth.
Ike Irish hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, a three-run shot that also scored Foster and Bobby Peirce.
Auburn will be back in action this weekend when the Tigers travel down to Gainesville, Florida for a three-game set with the No. 3 Florida Gators (22-4, 5-1 SEC). First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday, then 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday. All three games will be televised on SEC Network+.
