JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – No. 11 Auburn notched its sixth come-from-behind win of the season with a 6-3 victory at Jacksonville State Wednesday at Jim Case Stadium.
Playing in its first true road game of the year, the win marked Auburn's sixth straight and extended the team's unbeaten streak to 10 games.
"We responded. I thought that was the difference there in the ballgame," head coach Butch Thompson said. "It's neat to play some of these closer games and having to come from behind. Some teams can only win one way. I think we're at least learning or gaining a little confidence that we can win more than one way."
Trailing 1-0 going into the top of the seventh, Auburn (11-1-1) scored four runs with two outs to take the lead. Cole Foster, who matched a career high with four hits in the game, tied the score at one with a RBI single, and Justin Kirby gave the Tigers the lead with a ground-rule double to left center. Ike Irish then extended the lead to 4-1 with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
"We've kind of shown that all year, our two-strike ability with two outs," Foster said. "We just keep stacking on and putting things together. I think that's been really good for us lately, and I think it'll keep getting better as we grow more as team. That's kind of our mantra is to be the toughest team in the box."
Making his second midweek start the of the season, Konner Copeland pitched an Auburn career best 5.0 scoreless innings and matched a season high with six strikeouts. The contest ultimately marked Auburn's third straight game allowing three or fewer runs.
"That's exactly what I wanted to go do today. I wanted to fill up the zone and do whatever I could do to get on an off the field as quickly as possible," Copeland said.'
After the starting pitchers turned in a combined 10.1 scoreless innings, Jacksonville State (4-9) leadoff man Javon Hernandez reached on an error to start the sixth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He eventually scored the first run of the game on a one-out double. Chase Isbell entered in relief and walked the first batter he faced but responded by striking out back-to-back batters to keep the damage to a minimum.
Auburn immediately punched back and took the lead with the four runs in the top of the seventh, all coming after the second out of the inning was recorded at the plate. Mike Bello drew a two-out walk to move Caden Green into scoring position before Foster, Kirby and Irish all came to the plate and did the damage.
Jacksonville State put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Will Cannon entered in relief of Isbell and struck out back-to-back batters to end the threat.
The Tigers added some insurance runs with two outs in the ninth when Chris Stanfield sent a two-RBI single to left score Foster and pinch runner Josh Hall.
Jacksonville State cut its deficit to three with a pair of RBI doubles in the ninth, but Cannon ultimately recorded the final out with his season-high fourth strikeout to earn his third save.
Foster's four hits led the way for the Tigers, while Irish and Stanfield turned in two hits apiece. Bryson Ware extended his career-best hit streak dating back to last season to 14 games. It marked the team's seventh game with double digit hits in the last 10 contests.
Auburn wraps up non-conference play with a three-game series against Southeastern (9-4) Friday-Sunday at Plainsman Park.
No. 11 Auburn responds in road win at Jacksonville State
