By George Nunnelley

Auburn Athletics

Auburn wins pitching duel in series opener at UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. – No. 15 Auburn got out to an early lead and never looked back as the Tigers defeated UCF, 4-1, in the team’s first road game of the season Friday night at John Euliano Park.

Edouard Julien got the offence started with a two-run home run in the top of the second inning (see above), and Tanner Burns (1-0, 1.69) held the UCF offence at bay for 5 2/3 innings en route to the win. Burns allowed one run on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

“Our guys did a great job,” head coach Butch Thompson said. “I thought the difference was the guys on the mound. Tanner Burns threw 30-plus pitches in the first inning, but just settled down.”

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning with a strikeout, Burns retired the Knights in order from the second through the fourth innings with five outs coming via the strikeout.

“It was fun getting the ball the first game of the series, especially on the road,” Burns said. “Edouard started off with two-run shot and Bliss followed behind him. Elliott picked me up and then Cody finished it. It was all just a great team win, and we have to get (back) out tomorrow.”

Julien got Auburn’s scoring in the contest started with the aforementioned two-run home run to left-center field. The home run was Julien’s SEC-leading fourth of the season, including his third in his last four at-bats.

“I’m just trying to put the ball in play,” Julien said. “I’m not trying to do too much. I just hope I can do that for a long time and help the team win.”

Ryan Bliss stepped to the plate two innings later with runners on first and second and two outs and ripped a RBI double off the wall in left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

UCF chipped into the lead with three straight singles in the bottom of the sixth. It marked the first earned run the Auburn pitching staff allowed since the top of the ninth inning of the series finale versus Georgia Southern.

Elliott Anderson relieved Burns with two outs in the sixth inning and pitched two scoreless innings before giving way to Cody Greenhill in the eighth. Leading 3-1, the Russellville, Alabama, native entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded and needed just two pitches to get out of the inning.

After the Tigers added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly from Kason Howell that scored Bliss in the top of the ninth, Greenhill retired UCF in order in the home half and earned his first save of the season.

“We were in the same position last week,” Thompson added. “We had a chance in game two to win the series, and it took us 13 innings in game three to win the series. We’ll come back tomorrow with that intent, to try and win a series tomorrow.“

The two teams will square off in game two of the weekend series Saturday at 5 p.m. CT. Auburn left-hander Kyle Gray (0-0, 0.00) will take the mound opposite UCF right-hander Trevor Holloway (0-0, 0.00).