Tag: Brody Moore

Season Preview: Auburn Baseball’s top returning hitters from 2022 season

Here’s a look at the top sluggers that return from Auburn Baseball’s 2022 College World Series roster.

The Auburn Tigers are set to open the 2023 season on Friday, Feb. 17 against Indiana at Plainsman Park. While we count down the days, here’s a brief look at what to expect this season.

The first chapter of Auburn Wire’s baseball season previews will take a look at Auburn’s returning hitters from last season’s College World Series roster.

Auburn returns plenty of contributors to last season’s lineup and will see a lot of new faces at the plate as well. However, the caliber of bats that have since moved on to the professional ranks leaves a few questions for Auburn to answer.

The biggest void on this season’s roster is [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], who was drafted 148th overall by the Los Angeles Angels and was immediately delegated to Double-A Rocket City. In his lone season on the Plains, DiChiara smashed 22 home runs and was responsible for 59 RBI.

Auburn will also be without [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag], [autotag]Brooks Carlson[/autotag], and [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag], who finished the season in the top-five of batting average last season behind DiChiara.

There are some familiar faces, however, who will return to the Auburn lineup this season including [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Hill[/autotag], [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag], and [autotag]Kason Howell[/autotag], who all hit over .250 last season.

Here’s a look at the top returning bats to Auburn’s roster ahead of the 2023 season, based on last season’s batting average.

Auburn Baseball misses out on top 25 preseason ranking

Despite earning a bid to the College World Series in 2022, Auburn Baseball misses the cut in D1Baseball’s preseason ranking.

The Auburn Tigers had an incredible run to the College World Series in 2022.

Following an early exit from the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Auburn went on a tear through the Auburn Regional by outscoring Southeastern Louisiana, Florida State, and UCLA 51-18 in three games to set up a weekend slate at Oregon State. Auburn was able to knock off the Beavers in the Super Regionals to clinch a berth in the College World Series for the second time in three seasons.

Despite such a strong end to the 2022 season, it seems that Auburn will need to prove its worth to the voters this season.

D1Baseball recently released its preseason top 25 rankings. Nine SEC teams made the cut, with seven of those being placed in the top 10. Out of those nine teams, Auburn was not one of those.

While it is not known why Auburn did not make the preseason top 25, it may be due to the uncertainty surrounding Auburn’s roster. Pitching-wise, the Tigers will look to replace [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] in the rotation and [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag] in relief. Auburn will also be missing the bats of [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag], [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag], [autotag]Brooks Carlson[/autotag], and [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag].

Auburn will need to replace many key pieces of last season’s College World  Series team but is off to a great start as the incoming freshman class ranks No. 10 according to D1Baseball.

Auburn opens the season on Friday, Feb. 17 at Plainsman Park against Indiana. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.

Here’s a look at the initial top 25 from D1Baseball.com.

1 LSU
2 Tennessee
3 Stanford
4 Ole Miss
5 Texas A&M
6 Wake Forest
7 Florida
8 Arkansas
9 Oklahoma State
10 Vanderbilt
11 East Carolina
12 North Carolina
13 Maryland
14 Virginia Tech
15 TCU
16 Louisville
17 UCLA
18 Southern Miss
19 Virginia
20 Alabama
21 NC State
22 Miami
23 South Carolina
24 Texas Tech
25 Oregon

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Baltimore Orioles agree to terms with Trace Bright

Contract details have emerged for RHP Trace Bright and the Baltimore Orioles.

Another key piece of Auburn’s rotation is officially going pro.

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has reported that the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to terms with their fifth-round selection, Auburn RHP [autotag]Trace Bright[/autotag].

Bright, who recorded 17 starts for Auburn in 2022, was taken with the 137th overall selection and has signed a contract worth $400,000, which is below slot value, but still considered a pretty hefty payday.

The Montgomery product ends his three-year stint at Auburn with an ERA of 6.01 in 139.1 innings of work. He struck out 149 batters and issued just 63 walks in 40 total appearances, posting a 10-9 record.

In 2022, Bright got the nod in 17 weekend games, and making one additional appearance as a reliever. In 18 appearances, Bright struck out 94 batters while issuing just 38 walks. His longest outing of the season was 6.0 innings, which he accomplished in three straight starts in nonconference weekend action.

His best outing came in the Auburn Regional against Southeastern Louisiana, where he struck out ten batters in Auburn’s 19-7 win over the Lions at Plainsman Park. Bright also got the start against Stanford in the College World Series, where he struck out eight batters in five innings of work in Auburn’s lone win in Omaha.

Bright becomes the fifth draft pick from Auburn to sign with an MLB Organization. Details have yet to emerge for [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag] (517th overall pick by Cardinals), [autotag]Hayden Mullins[/autotag] (369th pick by Red Sox), and [autotag]Carson Skipper[/autotag] (326th pick by Rockies). It is expected that all three will sign with their respective organizations.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Auburn outlasts Stanford to advance in College World Series

Relive Auburn’s 6-2 win over Stanford on Monday afternoon with the gallery below:

Despite the temperature reaching the high-90s in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday afternoon, the Auburn bats needed a little time to heat up.

But when they finally got going, it was hard to slow down the Tiger offense.

Down 2-0 heading to the sixth inning, Auburn broke through to score six runs on six hits to defeat Stanford, 6-2 to advance in the College World Series, earning their first win in Omaha since 1997.

[autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] helped Auburn take the lead on a three-run double in the sixth inning, which complimented a bases-loaded walk to [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] just two at-bats prior.

In the 7th, [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag] scored [autotag]Bryson Ware[/autotag] on a sacrifice fly, and Peirce earned his 2nd RBI of the game on a double to score [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag], extending the Tiger lead.

Auburn will now await the winner of Ole Miss-Arkansas. The game will be played on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CDT, and can be seen on ESPN.

Tiger stay afloat with victory over Stanford Cardinal

The Tigers live to play another game.

They certainly had to fight for it, but the Auburn Tigers will get the chance to continue fighting in the College World Series.

Auburn knocked off the Stanford Cardinal 6-2 on Monday to continue its CWS bid into at least Tuesday. The Tigers are operating in danger with a loss already in the double-elimination tournament, and they’ll have to play one of either Arkansas or Ole Miss in their next game.

For the first five innings, it was all Cardinal.

Stanford drove in a run in the first inning when junior Brett Barrera hit a double to center field, allowing outfielder Brock Jones to score. The next run from the Cardinal came in the top of the second when infielder Adam Crampton hit a double down the line to bring sophomore Tommy Troy in.

It seemed as if Auburn’s bats were invisible for most of the game, but its defense kept the score at 2-0 until the top of the sixth — it was time for the Tigers to do some damage.

Auburn only needed one inning to take the lead, scoring four runs to go up 4-2. A [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] walk with bases loaded sent freshman [autotag]Mike Bello[/autotag] home to kick off proceedings, and a double from infielder [autotag]Cole Foster[/autotag] sent the three remaining runners to the plate. Auburn would tack on two more in the top of the seventh on RBIs from Peirce and senior [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag]. The score would remain that way for the rest of the game and the Tigers would send the Cardinal packing as they stay alive in the CWS.

It’s likely Auburn will be hoping to play Arkansas on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT, as the other possible opponent, Ole Miss, has already defeated the Tigers in this tournament.

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Look: Auburn wins regional in dominant fashion

Auburn was unstoppable in their games.

For the third time in the past five seasons, Auburn is heading to the super regionals.

The Tigers beat UCLA 11-4 Monday afternoon to complete a dominant weekend that saw Auburn outscore its opponents 51-18 and never trail.

The celebration was delayed after a weather delay forced the game to be paused with Auburn up 9-0 in the sixth inning. The delay forced starter [autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] out of the game. He pitched 5.1 shutout innings, allowing just one hit, three walks, and striking out 10 Bruins.

The Auburn offense pounced on UCLA starter James Hepp to start the game. The first four Tigers reached with [autotag]Sonny DiChiara[/autotag] and Brooks Carlson each driving in a run to give Auburn the 2-0 lead.

Auburn added on in the fourth when DiChiara singled up the middle to score Nate LaRue and Blake Rambusch and stretch the lead to 4-0.

[autotag] Brody Moore[/autotag], the Regional MVP, led the fifth inning off with a home run and the Tigers scored three runs in the sixth to pull away from UCLA.

Here are the best photos from Auburn’s victory.

Look: Auburn crushes FSU to advance to regional final

Auburn’s offense is red-hot.

Auburn needed a couple more innings to put this game out of reach. The Tigers scored seven runs in the fourth inning on their way to a 21-7 win over Florida State Saturday night.

Auburn’s offense has been unstoppable during the Tigers’ two wins at the Auburn Regional. They have scored 40 runs on 39 hits including eight doubles and 10 home runs.

Auburn is now set to play the winner of UCLA-FSU in the championship game Sunday night. The Tigers are one win away from advancing to the Super Regionals. Their opponent will have to beat them twice to advance.

[autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag] was the star of the offense, the shortstop reached base in all seven of his plate appearances. He went 5 for 5 with a double, a triple, five RBI, four runs, and two walks.

Starter [autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag] (7-2) had another strong outing, allowing three runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work. He walked four batters and struck out three more.

Take a look at the best photos from Auburn’s dominant victory over FSU.

Series final between Auburn and Alabama ruled no-contest

A disappointing end to the series for everyone.

Auburn was unable to complete the sweep against Alabama on Sunday after the game was ruled a no-contest after a weather delay halted the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Auburn had a golden opportunity to take their first lead of the game with the bases loaded with just one out. They were unable to take advantage of this opportunity as the game entered a weather delay with the rivals tied at 1. The lengthy delay and curfew restrictions around road games prevented the game from restarting before the designated time.

Starting pitcher [autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag] held the Tide scoreless for the first four innings before their bats came alive in the top of the fifth. Alabama led the inning off with back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead. Gonzales was able to gather himself and limit the damage to just the one run.

Auburn’s offense wasted no time erasing the deficit. [autotag]Nate LaRue[/autotag] and [autotag]Garrett Farquah[/autotag] started the inning with singles before [autotag]Brody Moore[/autotag] brought LaRue home with a safety squeeze. Alabama intentionally walked Sonny DiChiara and Blake Rambusch drew a walk to load the bases and give Bobby Pierce a chance to give Auburn the lead.

Unfortunately, the game entered a weather delay during his at-bat, and play was never resumed.

Auburn will return to action at Samford Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.

Auburn baseball shuts out Yale to extend their winning streak

Auburn bats stay hot, Tigers win fourth-straight.

In the first of three games against Yale, the Auburn Tigers bats stayed hot on Friday night.

After Jordan Armstrong took the mound in the top of the first inning, Sonny DiChiara got the Tigers on the board in the bottom of the inning. He hit a two-run shot that would bring Brody Moore home for the 2-0. It was DiChiara’s first home run of the 2022 season. It was all the offense that Auburn would need but they were far from done.

Third baseman Blake Rambusch would get his first of two RBIs in the second when his single to left field brought Kason Howell around to score. The Tigers would take on a pair of runs in the third inning to make it 5-0. Six of the 15 hits on the night were extra-base hits. DiChiara hit his first double and first home runs. Brody Moore, Ryan Dyal, Bryson Ware, and Josh Hall each added doubles as well.

Jordan Armstrong would end up pitching 5.1 with 11 strikeouts, four hits allowed, and one hit batter. John Armstrong would finish out the sixth inning striking out both batters on nine pitches. Chase Allsup and Carson Swilling each pitched an inning with some control issues. The duo combined for three strikeouts and three walks.

Ben Bosse closed out the game by striking out the side in the top of the ninth inning. Auburn improved to 4-1 while Yale lost their first game of the season, and the first game played for the program since 2020. Kipp Grant took the loss as he went four innings with 10 hits allowed and six earned runs.

Auburn looks to get back on track vs. Mississippi State

Auburn baseball looks to get back on track as the Tigers host Mississippi State this weekend at Plainsman Park.

Auburn had a chance to sweep No. 2 Arkansas last weekend but instead finished 1-2 and will have another tough test in No. 5 Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs will come into Auburn winners of their last four games and the series is already Auburn’s third against a top-five opponent.

While the Tigers are 1-8 in SEC play, they still have 21 games left to play and will have a chance to climb in the standings.

“There’s still so much baseball to be played,” said Auburn head coach Butch Thompson. “We shouldn’t be sitting right here right now with the quality of ball that we’ve played. It’s not going to get any easier and we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. This is a life lesson if you can persevere.”

One of the bright spots in the series against Arkansas was the defense, which Thompson called some of the best he’s seen. The defense turned seven double plays and Kason Howell made several great catches in center field.

Pitching was a tale of two stories as the starters combined to go 1-0 with a 1.55 ERA, 10 strikeouts and six walks in 17.1 innings. On the other hand, seven relievers combined to go 0-2 with a 10.00 ERA, four strikeouts and 13 walks in 9.0 innings.

Some much-needed reinforcements may be coming for the bullpen as Carson Skipper has returned from injury and Hayden Mullins could also return as well. Mason Barnett has also returned into his role as the team’s starter after injuries forced him to be a starter at the start of the season.

The Tigers offense will face a tough test in a Mississippi State pitching staff that ranks second in the SEC in ERA (2.76) and batting average (.189) and leads the league in strikeouts with 372. Offensively, the Bulldogs are much closer to the middle of the pack, ranking eighth in batting average, 12th in slugging and ninth in runs scored.

Auburn’s bats have been much more impressive, ranking top five in batting average (.298), slugging (.484), OBP, (.386).

Pitcher of the Week: Cody Greenhill

Greenhill set the tone for the starting pitchers on Thursday when he led the Tigers to their first SEC win. The senior held Arkansas to one run on three hits over 7.0 innings of work. He also struck out five Razorbacks and did not walk anyone. 

Hitter of the Week: Brody Moore

Moore was excellent at the plate, hitting .462 with six runs scored, one double, one home run and one RBI and was just as good in the field. The junior had five assists and 15 putouts and was a key part of most of the double plays the Tigers turned.

Auburn and Mississippi State will open the series Friday at 6 p.m. CT on SECN+/ESPN+. Games two and three will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.