ATLANTA, Ga. – Auburn picked up its third straight win against No. 20 Georgia Tech at home, defeating the Yellow Jackets, 7-3, Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.
The Tigers (13-16) held Georgia Tech (15-13) to just four hits, including three infield singles, and improved to 5-0 in midweek games this season.
"Much-needed win for us," head coach Butch Thompson said. "I just told them, we have nine games in two weeks. We captured momentum. How can we keep momentum from this ballgame?"
Trace Bright (3-3, 6.95) made the designated started and turned in 4.0 innings en route to earning the win. Bright allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
"Trace did a good job. He winds up getting four instead of maybe the two expected. Dropped his slot just a little bit, and that was one of the points I made to the ballgame. We're in season. We're trying to get better. We're going to force some adjustments right now, and I thought it was good."
Bright allowed just two infield singles and needed only 30 pitched to get through the third before a two-run homer followed a two-out walk in the fourth.
Auburn got out to a lead on a two-run home run from Bryson Ware in the top of the second. The long ball was Ware's fifth of the season and his third in the last four games. The Tigers added to the lead as Ryan Bliss hit a two-out, RBI single through the left side later in the inning.
Georgia Tech cut the lead two one on the aforementioned home run in the fourth, but Auburn got both runs back as Steven Williams smacked a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth to make it a 5-2 game.
"I don't know, I guess I just see it pretty well here," Williams said. "It's definitely a lefty hitter-friendly park. I'm proud of the team. We did a pretty good job all the way around, and we're going to try to carry this into this weekend."
Peyton Glavine returned to his hometown and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings while Auburn extended its lead.
"I'm just feeling happy, feeling grateful that we came out here and got a great, solid team game and got the win," Glavine said. "It was a good night."
Williams stayed hot at the plate in the eighth, adding a two-run double off the wall in right field to make it a 7-2 ballgame. William's four RBIs matched a season high.
Georgia Tech loaded the bases on a bunt single and pair of walks in the bottom of the eighth, but Will Morrison entered with one out and limited the damage by holding the Yellow Jackets to just one run on a sacrifice fly.
Seb Thomas pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh, and Carson Swilling made his 10th appearance of the season in the ninth and ended the game by striking out the side.
"Carson really put the icing on the cake," Thompson added. "You're looking for somebody to have the right momentum, just being fluid. He challenged them with the fastball."
Ware scored three times in the contest, while Judd Ward reached base three times and scored a pair of runs.
Auburn continues its SEC slate with a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama (19-12, 5-7 SEC) Thursday-Saturday.
