AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn turned in an all-around performance in the team's 16-1 win against UAB Wednesday night at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers (7-2) faced just five batters over the minimum on the mound while scoring a season-high 16 runs on 17 hits.
"This was a game that we've kind of been hoping for," head coach Butch Thompson said. "This was a complete, focused ballgame from start to finish. It was really clean baseball in all of our phases. Maybe our most complete game of the year."
Mason Barnett (1-0, 1.12) got the win for Auburn in his first start of the season, recording eight strikeouts and facing just two batters over the minimum in five innings.
"It was definitely a good win all around. It was really nice to get that one under the belt," Barnett said. "Getting back in the zone and trying to get swings was what I was trying to do."
Bryson Ware lead the charge for the Auburn offense, which turned in the most runs and hits in a game since setting program records in both categories against Alabama A&M a year ago. Ware went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple while matching a season and career best with six RBI.
"Coach Gross is big on telling us to focus on the small things, and that's what I tried to do tonight," Ware said. "Especially with our pitching today being lights out, that brought a lot of confidence to our offense."
Eleven Tigers recorded a hit in the win, including the first of the season for Jake Wyandt, Garrett Farquhar, Luke Burk, Mason Land and Bobby Peirce.
After surrendering a run in the first, Barnett settled in nicely. He racked up seven strikeouts in his next three innings and retired 15 of his last 16 batters. Barnett only surrendered two hits and his eight strikeouts came one short of matching a career high.
Auburn scored in every inning from the second through the eighth. The scoring began with one out in the second when Ware ripped a two-RBI double into the gap in left center, giving Auburn its first lead of the game. Wyandt added another run in the inning with a RBI single, marking his first hit in an Auburn uniform.
Ware struck again an inning later, this time with a bases-clearing double to extend the lead to 6-1.
Auburn added to its advantage with a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to make it an 11-1 ballgame. The four-run fifth included RBI singles from Wyandt, Blake Rambusch and Kason Howell, while Cam Hill drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 10.
Chase Allsup, Cade Granzow, Garrett Wade and Ben Bosse all tossed scoreless innings in relief of Barnett to cruise to the win. The bullpen only surrendered one hit while adding three strikeouts.
The Tigers turned in their fourth inning with three or more runs in the sixth. Garrett Farquhar led off with a double, and Ware followed with a RBI triple, his third extra-base hit of the game. Wyandt drove in his third run and Rambusch notched his first multi-RBI game later in the frame.
Auburn continued with the offensive pressure and capped off the scoring in the contest with a run in the seventh and eighth innings. Run-scoring singles from Farquahar and Peirce accounted for the scoring.
Auburn continues a busy week at Plainsman Park with a four-game weekend series against Rhode Island. The first game is set for Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
All-around performance leads Auburn to win against UAB
