Alabama was riding high after taking the lead on a double by Hunter Alexander in the bottom of the fourth inning. It then proceeded to allow 16 straight runs over the next three innings, losing to No. 25 Auburn 19-5.
“I just told the team ‘we can’t let one loss turn into two,’” coach Brad Bohannon said. “We can’t bring this to the park tomorrow. Hopefully, we can put nine innings together like we did the first four tonight.”
It looked like it was going to be a pitcher’s duel early. Through the first three innings, both teams had one base runner a piece. Auburn’s came on the first pitch of the game, while Alabama’s hit rocketed off Auburn starter Casey Mize. Auburn led 1-0 at that point.
Heading to the bottom of the fourth, Auburn led 2-0, with the second run coming off a Steven Williams solo home run to right field. Joe Breaux led off with a single, followed by Chandler Avant doubling down the left-field line. Chandler Taylor drew a walk to load the bases for Alexander.
On the first pitch of his at bat, Alexander lined a ball down the left-field line for a bases clearing double. That would be the last time Alabama scored till the bottom of the seventh, and by that time the game was already out of reach.
Auburn loaded the bases with one out in the top half of the fifth. Brett Wright, who already had an RBI in the game, singled to left field, bringing in the go-ahead run. He trotted home on the very next pitch, when Edouard Julien smashed a three-run home run to right-center field, putting the Tigers up 7-3.
The Tigers scored six more the next inning, while only recording two hits. Back-to-back errors by the Alabama infield scored the first run of the inning. It also drew two walks in the inning, before Brendan Venter hit a grand slam to left field. The Tigers added five more runs in the seventh.
Four different Auburn hitters finished with multiple RBIs, with Venter finishing with five himself.
Sam Finnerty started for Alabama. He was cruising till the fifth inning. He allowed 10 runs, six earned, and 10 hits. He also struck out one batter in five innings of work, while picking up his second loss of the season.
“Sam has been great for us all year, and he just wasn’t as sharp in the middle of the game as he has been,” Bohannon said. “We also didn’t help him defensively.”
Davis Vainer and Mason Duke finished off the game. Vainer struggled in his 1 1/3 innings of work. He allowed seven runs, four earned, while allowing four hits and three walks.
Mize also went five innings. He allowed three runs off five hits. He tied his season-high in walks with two, while striking out eight. He improves to 8-1 on the season.
“Casey, what has done statistically over the last year and a half period, is as impressive as anything you’ll see in our game. Even before we scored, four of our first nine or 10 outs were really hard contact.”
The loss either ties the largest loss or is the largest loss in series history for Alabama. Auburn won that game either 14-0, or 14-6. Auburn and Alabama have different scores for the game that was played in 1906.
Jake Walters starts on Saturday for Alabama. He faces freshman Tanner Burns. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
