February 20, 2019

Tigers complete midweek sweep of Alabama A&M

By George Nunnelley

Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – No. 15 Auburn defeated Alabama A&M, 10-2, Tuesday afternoon at Plainsman Park to complete the sweep in the two-game series against the Bulldogs.

Edouard Julien and Judd Ward provided the fireworks in the contest as they went a combined 3-for-6 with five runs scored, three home runs and five RBI. Ward blasted his first career home run in the bottom of the eighth and Julien followed a few batters later with his second home run of the game.

“I was most impressed with Julien’s second at bat and how he took the fastball the other way,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “I think that’s a really good sign for him being locked in.”

Several Tigers turned in multi-hit performances in the matchup, including Julien, Rankin Woley, Kason Howell and Conor Davis. Howell led the way with a season-high three hits and Woley has two or more hits in three straight contests.

Auburn’s first run crossed the plate when Woley sent a shot into left field in the bottom of the first, scoring Ward from second. It was Woley’s third double and sixth RBI of the season.

Defensively, the Tigers made several plays and held the Bulldogs to two unearned runs. Early in the game, newcomer Everett Lau robbed Alabama A&M of a base hit after going up the middle and throwing across his body to get an out for the Tigers.

Auburn native Brooks Fuller earned his first career start in an Auburn uniform and pitched three innings, allowed two unearned runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Fellow freshman left-hander Garrett Wade (1-0, 0.00) pitched 4.0 scoreless innings in relief and allowed three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

“I had a lot of fun competing out there,” Wade said. “I felt a lot of confidence. I think that was the biggest difference between some of the outings in the fall and some of the spring. I felt really confident out there today.”

Already ahead 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Ward and Julien put an exclamation point on the night with their aforementioned home runs. Julien’s set of home runs in the fifth and eighth innings marked his first career multi-homer game.

“We’re just trying to compete and put balls in play every time,” Julien said. “On the second at bat, I had a first-pitch slider up and away. I just went and put a barrel on and it went dead center.”

After Peyton Glavine pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the eighth, Ryan Watson entered the game in the top of the ninth and escaped a bases-loaded jam with nobody out to secure the Auburn win.

The Auburn pitching staff didn’t allow an earned run for the second straight game and lowered its season ERA to 1.53.

The Tigers hit the road in the non-conference for the first time since 2012 with a three-game series at UCF Friday-Sunday. Sophomore right-hander Tanner Burns (0-0, 1.80) will toe the rubber in the opener opposite UCF southpaw Grant Schuermann (0-0, 1.50).