AUBURN, Ala. – Tahraun Hammond drove in a pair of runs to trim No. 22 Auburn’s lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth, but the Tigers pulled away for a 10-4 final in Friday’s series opener at Plainsman Park.
Efrain Morales opened the scoring with a one-out, solo home run in the top of the first inning. The hosts looked to even the game in bottom of the frame as they loaded the bases with two outs, but ODU starting pitcher Ben Moore got out of the inning with a ground out to second.
The Monarchs (3-8) had a chance to add to their lead in the second as singles from Kyle Edwards and Evan Holman and a walk by Hammond loaded the bases with one out. Ryan Thomas went down swinging though and Morales popped up to second.
The Tigers (12-2) took over the game with a three-run bottom of the third. With no outs and runners on the corners, Auburn knotted the game at 1-1 on an Ike Irish RBI ground out to first base. Cooper McMurray then scored from second on a Deric Fabian hit back up the middle, and Fabian came around on a Chase Fralick single to center field.
Auburn went up 5-1 with another two runs in the fourth. Bristol Carter singled to third base, stole second, and moved up to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Eric Snow doubled to the gap in right for a 4-1 lead, and Chris Rembert drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.
ODU got a run back in the top of the fifth as Thomas doubled down the right-field line, reached third on a Morales ground out back to the pitcher, and trotted home on a Luke Waters double to right center. In the sixth, Kainen Jorge and Edwards both walked, and Holman reached on an infield hit back to the pitcher. Hammond then stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and came through with a base knock to left center, plating Jorge and Edwards.
The Tigers answered in the bottom of the sixth as a Fabian solo homer run to center field pushed the deficit to 6-4. Auburn then put the game out of reach with another four runs on three hits in the seventh. With two outs and a runner on second, Fabian grabbed another RBI with a single to left field. The home team then loaded the bases and Fralick made it 10-4 with a double to left center.
Moore (0-1) received the loss after giving up five runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out four in a 3.1-inning start. Holman finished 3-for-4 to lead ODU at the plate. Waters (2-for-5) doubled and drove in a run, Hammond (1-for-3) had two RBIs and added a walk, Thomas and Edwards also went 1-for-3 and scored a run reach, and Morales (1-for-5) hit his first career long ball.
ODU will look to even the weekend series when the teams return for a 6 p.m. EST start on Saturday.