Midweek Round-Up: UT-Martin

UT-Martin @ #18 Auburn

• Tuesday: 15 – 9 W
• Wednesday: 2 – 0 W

If you ever wanted to see two games that were completely different but accomplished exactly what you wanted to, then do I now have video for you! Auburn dominated the Skyhawks in both phases of the game, however it took 18 innings to prove both true. In game 1, UTM rushed out to a 6-1 lead after just 2 innings of play. It would only prove as a sign of things to come. Following the 2^nd inning, Auburn’s bats would catch fire as the Tigers proceeded to score runs in every inning left to play. Will Holland and Edouard Julien would lead the way, going a combined 7 for 10 with a double, a Home Run, 2 RBIs and a stolen base. Also, a shout out to Everett Lau would got on the Dinger Tote Board with his first big fly of the year!

Game two saw the other side of the coin, the side that Pitching Coach Steve Smith likes to see from his guys. Garrett Wade got the first start of his Auburn career and did not disappoint. The Freshman went 5 innings of 1 hit baseball with 8 Ks and just 2 walks.

In the batter’s box, however, it was a flip from the day before. UTM started Austen Bullington, their normal Sunday starter, and he proceeded to pitch a gem. Bullington went 6.2 innings of 2 hit baseball with 6Ks and just 3 walks. One of those hits was to Conor Davis, and that was a mistake pitch…

That would prove to be all the Tigers would need, as Auburn was able to add an insurance run in the 8^th for a 2-0 win. Coach Butch Thompson has preached about having a variety of ways to win games so that you can’t be pigeon holed; well this was a perfect example of winning in different ways. These are two very good wins as we inch closer and closer to SEC play.

Around the League

#1 Vanderbilt

• vs Davidson, TUE 24-2 W
• vs East Tennessee St, WED 12-4 W

This was completely unfair. Davidson gave up 6 walks and 8 hits in an inning…ONE INNING that resulted in 13 Commodore runs. Vandy is so good right now and I cannot wait to see what a raise in competition week in and week out does to it. Not saying that Vandy hasn’t played anyone this season (TCU, Virginia and Cal State Fullerton are solid ball clubs), just wanting to see what some of the top teams in the country can do against the best that’s out there in my opinion.

#6 Mississippi State

• vs #20 East Carolina, TUE 4-1 W
• vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff, WED 14-1 W

Really solid win on Tuesday against a ‘good enough to host a regional’ team in ECU. State is quietly dominate on the diamond this year and they are doing it against the good teams as well (Texas Tech and USM). However the real win in Starkville came Wednesday when State wore teal jerseys for Ovarian Cancer Awareness in memory of Alex Wilcox who passed away last year and was a pitcher on the Mississippi State softball team.

#7 Florida

• vs Florida Gulf Coast, TUE 15-0 W
• vs Florida Gulf Coast, WED 7-2 L

Florida may be the most perplexing team in the country. One week they are crushing Winthrop and cruising by Miami, then they turn around and drop games to North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast. Don’t get me wrong, losses will happen during a season, but this is Florida…that normally doesn’t happen to them. This isn’t a panic moment, just something to keep an eye on as we move along this season.

#10 LSU

• Holy Cross, WED 9-2 W

Bounce back win for the Tigers after a weird weekend in Austin.

#13 Ole Miss

• vs Little Rock, TUE 11-8 W
• vs #20 East Carolina, WED 3-2 L

Heck of a ballgame in Oxford yesterday as ECU no hit the Rebels for 8.2 innings only to give up back to back base hits to make it a 3-2 lead and then get the bases loaded, only to get a foul out to end the ballgame. If you need something to watch today at work, here is your game of the midweek!

#14 Arkansas

• Charlotte, WED 9-2 W

Just the Piggies doing Piggy stuff. Another solid midweek win.

#15 Georgia

• vs Alabama State, TUE 11-3 W
• vs Jacksonville St, WED 5-1 W

#22 Texas A&M

• vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, TUE12-2 W
• vs Abilene Christian, WED 9-3 W

#23 South Carolina

• vs The Citadel, TUE 9-0 W
• vs Garner-Webb, WED 10-2 L

Now this is a bit surprising. Webb entered the contest at 6-2 so it’s not all that surprising, its more of the timing of the loss for the Gamecocks. One thing that we can take from games like this are just how deep a team’s pitching staff is. The first 4 pitchers Carolina used yesterday went a combined 6.2 innings and gave up all 10 runs.

Tennessee

• vs Troy (Hoover), TUE 11-2 W

The Vols have 5 games until they enter Lee County and my question is, will they still be undefeated? 13-0 is amazing and should be applauded. Look for Tennessee to be ranked next week if they can get past Fresno State.

Alabama

• vs UAB, TUE 4-3 W
• vs South Dakota State, WED 5-4 W/14

Wins. Wins are all that matter for this version of the Tide. That makes 8 in a row for the Tide and I would expect that number to run to 11 or 12 before all is said and done before Ole Miss welcomes the Tide to Oxford.

Kentucky

• vs Boston College, WED 12-3 L

Don’t let the score fool you, BC held a 5-2 lead going into the 9^th. Tough loss for UK as its their first one in the new ballpark, but these are to be expected since they are still breaking in a new squad for the most part.

On Deck

Auburn wraps up this home stint by hosting the Roadrunners from Texas-San Antonio for a 3 game set this weekend. UTSA stands at 7-6 on the weekend and are coming off of a dropped series to Bradley last weekend and a home loss on Tuesday to Texas State. The Runners are not to be taken lightly however. They do hold a road win over the Longhorns just five games ago. Texas then went from that game to sweeping LSU. Dylan Rock leads the way for UTSA at the plate, holding a .386 BA as we enter the weekend, while Jonathan Tapia and Nick Thornquist supply the power in the home run department. On the mound, Slater Foust leads the staff with a 0.92 ERA in a team leading 19.2 innings and a 2-0 record. He is matched by Palmer Wenzel in record, touting a 2.12 ERA while Karan Patel has started 3 games, with an 0-2 record and a 2.7 ERA. I’m not so sure of a series sweep here, but it is possible. A series win, however, is what Auburn must have, especially with the toughest schedule, by remaining winning percentage at least, ahead of the Tigers.