AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn baseball opened its fall exhibition schedule with a 20-0 win in 12 innings against Tuskegee Friday night at Plainsman Park.
"The real winner tonight was The Miracle League of East Alabama," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We appreciate our neighbors at Tuskegee and Coach Hollins for coming over and being a part of tonight with us. It was good to get back out and compete as we both get ready for the spring."
Auburn scored four runs on four hits in the second inning and never looked back as the Tigers ultimately tallied its 20 runs on 15 hits. Twenty position players saw action and got a plate appearance in the game.
Newcomers Sonny DiChiara and Blake Rambusch combined for five runs, six hits and nine RBI. DiChiara hit a two-RBI double to right in the fifth and highlighted the game with a grand slam over the scoreboard in left center in the seventh.
On the mound, nine pitchers combined to hold Tuskegee scoreless and to just three hits in the contest, including hitless past the fourth inning. The Tigers struck out 23 batters and issued just one walk while getting to only three three-ball counts in the 12-inning game.
Carson Skipper earned the start and was the first of three pitchers to throw a pair of innings, joined by Trace Bright and Hayden Mullins, who led the way with five strikeouts. Three returners in Nate LaRue, Mason Barnett and Blake Burkhalter and three freshmen in Parker Carlson, Chase Allsup and Ben Bosse combined to hold Tuskegee off the base paths and struck out 11 in the last six innings.
HITTER OF THE GAME
Sonny DiChiara: 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
PITCHERS OF THE GAME
Carson Skipper: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, (23 pitches/18 strikes)
Blake Burkhalter: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (12 pitches/10 strikes)
UP NEXT
The last chance to catch the Tigers against outside competition prior to next spring is Saturday, Oct. 23 against Clemson. First pitch between the two Power 5 foes is set for 11 a.m. at Plainsman Park.