AUBURN, Ala. – No. 15 Auburn completed the sweep of Cincinnati by defeating the Bearcats 5-0 in game one and 9-5 in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Plainsman Park.
The sweep was Auburn's first of the season and the team's fourth in the last seven non-conference series.
"I thought we took the extra base," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We were aggressive going from second to home on a ball that gets by the catcher. I just love the aggression there. Our base running was really good for the entire weekend. The defense was really clean all weekend. Thirty-seven strikeouts over two walks, our pitching staff gave us a chance to get the sweep."
Sophomore left-hander Jack Owen (2-0, 0.00) turned in a career day on the mound and earned the win in his first weekend start in an Auburn uniform in game one.
Junior southpaw Elliott Anderson (2-0, 0.68) threw a career-high 4.1 innings of relief and picked up the win in game two. Anderson improved to 8-0 in his Auburn career.
Offensively, Steven Williams and Rankin Woley went a combined 9-for-17 with six runs, four doubles and five RBI in the doubleheader. Williams has multiple hits in four straight games and Woley is right on his heels with two hits in each game of the series.
"I think we're just trying to simplify, and just do what we do," Williams said. "Not try to do too much, and try to be the best hitters we can in situations. Just fed off what other guys can do. It's been good so far."
GAME ONE
A run in the bottom of the first inning was all the Tigers would need as Owen shined on the mound and led the Tigers to the team's second straight shutout win.
Owen, who was making his first career weekend start, pitched a career-high 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks. The 10 strikeouts bested Owen's previous career high of eight turned in last weekend at UCF.
"It's confidence," Owen said of what has changed from his freshman year to now. "Last year, I kind of pitched to not give up runs instead of to get guys out. I was kind of on my heels instead of on the attack. This year has just been going after guys. Give them your best, and your best stuff is good enough to win. That's been a game-changer for me."
Owen retired 12 straight batters before going out to start the eighth inning and giving up a leadoff single. The Aliso Viejo, California, native exited the game to a standing ovation after throwing 88 pitches and 67 strikes.
Williams and Woley stayed hot from the plate as the duo went a combined 5-for-8 and scored a pair of runs. Williams collected three hits for the second time in the last three games, while Woley ripped a pair of doubles and drove in a season-high three runs.
Auburn doubled its 1-0 lead as Kason Howell hit a RBI double off the wall in left field in the bottom of the seventh. Woley extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-RBI double the next inning and later came in to score on a wild pitch.
Cody Greenhill entered the game in relief of Owen in the top of the eighth and recorded the final six outs to secure his second save of the season.
GAME TWO
The two teams went back-and-forth in the first few innings before Ryan Bliss broke a 4-4 tie with a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the third.
From there, Anderson entered the game and held the Bearcats scoreless in four straight frames as the offense was able to extend its lead. The southpaw allowed one run on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts in the longest outing of his career. He retired eight straight batters before giving up a solo home run in the eighth inning.
"Your goal is to come out of the bullpen and get the first guy out," Anderson said. "Coach Smith tells us every day to give our ball club a chance to win. As a pitcher, you can't win anything. You have to score. We're just told to go out there and keep us in the ballgame. The hitters will come through."
Brooks Fuller took the mound in relief of Anderson with one out in the eighth and picked up his first career save. The local product pithed 1.2 perfect innings and struck out a batter.
After Cincinnati jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Woley got the Auburn offense started with a two-RBI double to right center in the home half, marking his third double to go along with his fourth and fifth RBI of the day. Auburn took the lead as Woley scored on a throw that got away and extended the advantage when Williams advanced two bases on a wild pitch.
Cincinnati tied the game, 4-4, on a two-run home run in the top of the third, but Bliss hit his aforementioned first home run of his Auburn career to put the Tigers ahead for good.
Auburn manufactured a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly from Howell and bases-loaded walk from Will Holland in the fifth. The Tigers then plated a run on a wild pitch in both the seventh and eighth innings.
Auburn returns to action with a pair of midweek games against UT Martin on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch in both contests at Plainsman Park is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.