May 6, 2018
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AUBURN, Ala. -- No. 20 Auburn turned in arguably its most complete game of the season as the Tigers defeated No. 17 Vanderbilt, 14-0, and secured the team's first series sweep of the Commodores since 2002 Sunday afternoon at Plainsman Park.
Auburn's (34-14, 13-11 SEC) 14-run margin of victory is the largest over the Commodores since 1967, and the shutout was the Tigers' first against Vanderbilt (25-22, 11-13 SEC) since 1998.
The Auburn offense accounted for 14 runs on 13 hits while the pitching staff faced just two batters over the minimum and didn't issue a walk in the game.
"I think we all believe in each other and have been on a good stretch here," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We'll enjoy this today, and then we're right back to work. We're having fun doing this. I'm seeing my team really enjoy this process and be rewarded."
Redshirt-senior left-hander Andrew Mitchell (1-1, 2.70) pitched a season-high 5.1 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with no walks and five strikeouts. He retired the first 14 Vanderbilt batters he faced.
After retiring the first batter of the sixth inning, Mitchell gave way to Calvin Coker, who worked a perfect 2.2 innings and struck out three. Sophomore Davis Daniel relieved Coker for the final inning and fanned a pair. The Tiger trio faced just two batters over the minimum with both of Vanderbilt's hits coming on infield singles.
Auburn got out to a lead for the third straight day as Brendan Venter led off the bottom of the third inning with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Will Holland.
The Tigers used a seven-run fifth inning that saw 12 batters come to the plate to pull away from the Commodores. Leading 1-0, Venter doubled the lead with a solo home run to left field to start the home half. It was Venter's ninth home run of the season and second of the weekend. After a trio of walks loaded the bases with one out, Brett Wright hit a RBI single through the left side to make it 3-0. Three batters later, Jay Estes beat out an infield single to score another. Venter came around for the second time in the inning and drew a bases-loaded walk, and Conor Davis capped off the frame with a two-RBI single through the left side.
Auburn added three insurance runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to extend the lead and conclude the scoring in the game. With two on and one out, Davis blasted his second three-run home run of the series over the scoreboard in left in the home half of the seventh. The Tigers then used two walks, a Vanderbilt error and three hits highlighted by a Jeremy Johnson pinch-hit, RBI single through the right side to make it 14-0 in the eighth.
Davis drove in a career high five runs in the win and totaled 10 RBI on the weekend. Estes recording three hits for the second straight day, which matched a career high, while going 8-for-11 with four runs, one double, three RBI and three stolen bases in the series.
Auburn returns to action Tuesday night against South Alabama. First pitch at Plainsman Park is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be available on SEC Network+.