Tag: Javon Hernandez

Recap: Auburn baseball completes comeback effort in Sunday’s win over Ole Miss

The Tigers rallied from a 5-0 deficit to take down Ole Miss in walk off fashion.

Auburn baseball did not get the necessary wins over Ole Miss last weekend that it needed to keep its SEC Tournament hopes alive, but they refuse to pack up and quit on the season.

Sunday’s game was an example of Auburn’s determination. Trailing 5-0 before picking up a bat, the Tigers chipped away throughout the game before delivering the final blow in the final inning to walk-off as 10-9 victors over the Rebels on Sunday evening at Plainsman Park in Auburn.

The Sunday win prevented Auburn from being swept for the fifth time in SEC play. Auburn head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] was proud of his team’s ability to overcome early adversity and to keep fighting until the final at-bat.

“A great job by the resiliency of the club,” Thompson said postgame. “They’ve hung in there and competed enough to get that last punch back. I really wanted it for them.”

Auburn responded to Ole Miss’ five-run 1st inning effort by scoring two runs in the bottom frame on two RBI singles by [autotag]Cade Belyeu[/autotag] and [autotag]Caden Green[/autotag]. The Tigers added a run each in the next three innings to tie Ole Miss, 5-5, going to the top of the 5th inning, and would take a 6-5 lead in the 7th inning on Belyeu’s double.

Both teams combined to score four runs over the final two innings. Ole Miss’ Jackson Ross tied the game in the top of the 8th with a solo shot, which paved the way for Auburn’s [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] and [autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag] to hit solo blasts themselves in the bottom frame to put Auburn back in front, 8-6.

Ole Miss pieced together one last comeback bid in the 9th inning by sending three runs home on a bases-loaded double by Andrew Fischer. In the bottom frame, [autotag]Kaleb Freeman[/autotag] tied the game at 9-9 with an RBI single before a wild pitch allowed [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag] to score and to give the Tigers the 10-9 win.

At the plate, Auburn totaled 15 hits with five players recording multiple hits. On the mound, starter [autotag]Carson Myers[/autotag] lasted 2/3 of an inning after allowing five runs on four hits. [autotag]Cam Tilly[/autotag], [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag], [autotag]Conner McBride[/autotag], and [autotag]Parker Carlson[/autotag] also saw time on the mound.

Carlson earned the win, but the performance of the game belonged to Allsup, who earns the credit for keeping Ole Miss from adding more runs over the middle innings. He allowed one run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters.

“Allsup gave us a chance today,” Thompson said. “That’s a couple of outings where he threw the ball really well. He’s had control and command. He’s absolutely grown as a pitcher. He’s hung in there. I’m glad to see him have success. He persevered and was rewarded today.”

Auburn baseball moves to 22-24 on the season, 4-20 in SEC play. The Tigers will travel to Atlanta on Tuesday to face Georgia Tech for its final non-conference game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.

Check out the highlights from Sunday’s win here.

Recap: Auburn fails to keep up with Vanderbilt, drops Saturday contest

No. 10 Vanderbilt’s bats told the story Saturday as they blew by Auburn to earn the series win.

In game one between No. 19 Auburn and No. 10 Vanderbilt on Friday, the Tigers had a rough time trying to slow down the Commodores bats, thus falling, 11-1.

Saturday’s game provided the same storyline, as the Commodores did most of its damage in the middle innings to run away with a 13-5 series-clinching win over Auburn at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tennessee.

Vanderbilt’s bats were the headline again on Saturday, as they collected 13 runs on 17 hits. Eight of 11 Vanderbilt batters recorded at least one RBI and six of those batters recorded multiple hits. Auburn head coach Butch Thompson says that Vanderbilt’s plate success has been the difference in the series.

“They’re a handful at the plate, and we’re doing everything we can. They’re absolutely having a little bit tougher at-bats, but at the same time I think our guys are absolutely competing,” Thompson said postgame. “The difference has been their at-bats are just a tick better up and down the lineup. They linked up with two outs and made us pay.”

Auburn built momentum early on by scoring two runs in the top of the 1st inning. [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] scored on a fielding error before [autotag]Cooper McMurray[/autotag] drove home [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] with an RBI double.

Momentum was quickly taken away in the bottom half thanks to a three-run inning by the Commodores. The inning was headlined by a leadoff home run by RJ Austin to cut the Tigers’ lead to 2-1.

Both teams traded blows in the 4th inning before Vanderbilt rattled off seven runs over the 5th and 6th innings. Auburn scored two runs in the 7th inning to cut the deficit to 11-5, but Vanderbilt would deliver the final blow in the 8th inning to secure the win.

Auburn recorded eight hits in the game, with [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag] and Cooper McMurray each recording two a piece. McMurray led the team in RBI with two thanks to an RBI double and a solo home run in the 4th inning.

[autotag]Carson Myers[/autotag] took the loss for Auburn after he allowed four earned runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. [autotag]John Armstrong[/autotag] closed out the 4th inning by walking two batters and allowing one hit. He also struck out two batters in his 2/3 inning effort.

The Tigers will look to salvage a game in the series on Sunday by facing Vanderbilt at at 1 p.m. CT in Nashville.

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Recap: Walk-off by Maners gives Auburn game one victory over Austin Peay

After going down in the 8th inning, Auburn hits home runs in back-to-back innings, including a Mason Maners walk-off, to beat Austin Peay.

Auburn baseball’s final weekend series before the beginning of conference play started with many twists and turns against Austin Peay, but the Tigers managed to win the game late with two home runs, securing their 11th win of the year.

Despite the game being pushed to an earlier time, Auburn (11-2) saw it as a chance to have early success. The offense wasted no time getting to work as a result.

After [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] hit a single to begin the bottom half of the 1st and advanced to second base on a balk, [autotag]Cooper McMurray[/autotag] came up with two outs in the inning to hit an infield single that would score Weiss, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

The fun would continue in the 2nd inning, as two walks began the Auburn half, giving way to [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag], who hit a single in order to load the bases up. Following that, [autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag] drew a walk while [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] got hit by a pitch to score in two more runs, extending the lead to three.

McMurray capped off the party by putting a single into right center, scoring both Irish and Hernandez. Auburn ended the 2nd with a 5-0 lead, but went cold starting in the 3rd, not gaining anymore offensive momentum until the 8th. That break was when the Governors decided to strike.

The 3rd inning saw Clayton Gray stroke a single of his own into right center, driving in two runs to get Austin Peay on the board. Jon Jon Gazdar then singled into left field in the 5th with the bases loaded, scoring two more.

In the 7th, Lyle Miller-Green completed the comeback for the Governors, hitting a home run to left center, tying the game at 5-5. Justin Olson later singled in the 8th, scoring in a run to give his team a 6-5 lead.

[autotag]Christian Hall[/autotag] decided the party would stop right then, though, as with a 3-2 count in the bottom of the 8th with two outs, he sent a rocket over the right field wall to tie the game once again, giving the Tigers momentum.

[autotag]Mason Maners[/autotag] took this momentum to heart and did not allow the game to head for extras. Leading off the bottom of the 9th, he sent a no-doubt home run into right field, winning the game for Auburn 7-6.

[autotag]Tanner Bauman[/autotag] earned the win as the final pitcher of the day, going 1.1 innings, allowing no hits and no runs. He struck out one and walked one as well.

The walk-off win improves head coach Butch Thompson’s team to 11-2 on the year as Auburn prepares for games two and three of the series. First pitch for game two is set for 1 p.m. CST on Saturday.

Runs Hits Errors LOB
Austin Peay 6 9 0 7
No. 20 Auburn 7 8 1 4

WP: Bauman (2-0) LP: Hampu (1-1)

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McMurray’s productive day fuels Auburn’s run-rule win over Wichita State

Cooper McMurray sent home six runs in Auburn’s win over Wichita State

Auburn baseball used a late-inning surge in Friday’s game with No. 20 Iowa to pull off a 7-5 win to open its stay at the Jax College Baseball Classic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Momentum stayed on the side of the Tigers in Saturday’s game with Wichita State as they powered through to knock off the Shockers, 19-8, to move to 2-0 on the weekend.

Auburn (6-0) was bound for greatness from the very beginning of the game. [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] led off the inning with a double, which paved the way for the next two batters to reach base via base on balls to bring [autotag]Cooper McMurray[/autotag] to the plate. On the first pitch, McMurray smashed a home run to right field to give Auburn a 4-0 advantage before the first out of the game was recorded.

Auburn outscored Wichita State 15-3 through the first four innings, then would add four more runs in the 6th inning to put the run-rule into effect. The Tigers ended with 10 total hits, with McMurray and [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] each recording two.

What is even more shocking is the number of walks that were issued to Auburn batters. Nine Auburn batters had a base on balls as part of their statline, six of those were walked multiple times. [autotag]Cale Stricklin[/autotag] was walked three times in the game while players such as [autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag], [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag], and [autotag]Deric Fabian[/autotag] had two.

[autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag] picked up his second win of the season after striking out two batters and allowing three earned runs in 4.0 innings of work. [autotag]Zach Crotchfelt[/autotag] led the staff in strikeouts with three in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Auburn will play one final game in Jacksonville this weekend, a date with No. 11 Virginia on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. [autotag]Carson Myers[/autotag] will make his second start of the season for the Tigers after earning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors after an eight strikeout day against Eastern Kentucky last Sunday.

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Auburn knocks off No. 20 Iowa behind late-inning surge

The Tigers scored six runs over the final three innings to stun Iowa on day one of the Jax College Baseball Challenge.

Opening day of the Jax College Baseball Classic in Jacksonville, Florida was filled with insanity that would last past midnight.

Auburn’s opening game of the weekend with No. 20 Iowa began over three hours later than its originally scheduled time due to delays in the first game of the day between Wichita State and Virginia. The delay appeared to cause the Tigers to begin sluggish, however, a late-inning surge would be enough to lift them to a 7-5 victory at 121 Financial Park.

Iowa starting pitcher Brody Brecht was as strong as advertised. He struck out 11 batters while allowing two hits, an earned run, and four walks in six innings of work. Brecht departed after throwing 99 pitches and hanging on to a 3-2 lead in Friday’s game, and it would not take long for Auburn to find its groove once he was out of the picture.

The Tigers stole the lead from the Hawkeyes over the final two innings thanks to three straight home runs. [autotag]Mason Maners[/autotag] welcomed Iowa’s Jack Whitlock to the game by smashing a solo home run during the first at-bat of the 7th inning to tie the game at 3-3. Three at-bats later, [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] nailed a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to push Auburn ahead, 5-3.

The party continued when [autotag]Christian Hall[/autotag] led off the 8th inning by tattooing a ball that landed just shy of the St. John’s River to extend the Tigers’ lead to 6-3. [autotag]Cooper Weiss[/autotag] capped scoring later in the inning with a sacrifice fly to score [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag].

Iowa’s Sam Petersen cut the Auburn lead to 7-5 with two outs in the 9th inning on a two-run home run, but the Hawkeyes could not manage to re-take the lead.

[autotag]Cam Tilly[/autotag] earned the win in relief for Auburn by striking out three of the seven batters he faced in two innings of work, allowing just one hit. [autotag]John Armstrong[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] struck out two batters each in their relief appearances while allowing three combined hits. Starter [autotag]Chase Allsup[/autotag] allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters in his second start of the season. His night was forced to end early as he threw 80 pitches over 3 1/3 innings.

Auburn returns to action Saturday to face Wichita State in day two of the Jax College Baseball Classic. First pitch is scheduled for noon CT, and will be broadcast live at D1Baseball.com and on the Auburn Sports Network.

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Auburn passes first midweek test, downs UAB at Plainsman Park

The Tigers managed to defeat UAB, 7-2, on Tuesday despite recording just three hits in the contest.

Who says you need a dominating offense to win a baseball game convincingly?

The Auburn Tigers (4-0) earned its first midweek win of the season Tuesday by downing in-state foe UAB (2-2), 7-2, at Plainsman Park. Despite winning by five runs, Auburn only managed to record three hits in the contest.

“You’re usually not sitting here with the result you want if the other team scores first and you get outhit in the ballgame,” Auburn head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] said after the game. “I give the guys some credit for just hanging in there and battling.”

The usual damage pieces in [autotag]Ike Irish[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Stanfield[/autotag], and [autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] teamed up to notch one hit each in the stat sheet while the rest of the Tigers’ lineup went 0-14 at the plate.

Auburn’s first official hit came in the top of the 2nd inning when Peirce led off the inning with a single to 3rd base. He later scored in the inning on a bases-loaded walk to [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag], putting the Tigers ahead, 1-0. Irish led off the 3rd inning by hitting a 420-foot home run off the batter’s eye in center field. Irish’s second home run of the season extended Auburn’s lead to 2-0.

Auburn waited three innings to earn its third and final hit of the game when Stanfield opened the 6th inning with a double to right field. [autotag]Deric Fabian[/autotag] grounded out to 2nd base three at-bats later to send Stanfield home.

Auburn pitching made up for the lack of offensive power in the game as six pitchers combined to strike out 11 batters while allowing six hits, three walks, and two earned runs. [autotag]Conner McBride[/autotag] tossed 3.2 innings in his Auburn debut, striking out four batters and allowing two hits. Freshman [autotag]Griffin Graves[/autotag] earned the win by throwing two relief innings and striking out two batters. [autotag]Tanner Bauman[/autotag] struck out the side in one inning of work on 14 total pitches.

The Tigers will now shift its focus to an exciting, yet challenging weekend ahead in Jacksonville, Florida. Auburn will compete in the Jax College Baseball Classic beginning Friday at 5 p.m. CT against the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes. Auburn will also face No. 11 Virginia and Wichita State at 121 Financial Ballpark.

Check out these highlights from Tuesday’s win.

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Auburn clinches weekend series with Saturday win over Eastern Kentucky

Bobby Peirce recorded three RBI while Joseph Gonzalez tossed five innings in Saturday’s 6-1 win at Plainsman Park.

It was a cold day on the Plains, but the Auburn bats were hot.

[autotag]Bobby Peirce[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Stanfield[/autotag] recorded two hits as Auburn (2-0) claimed the first series win of the season by defeating Eastern Kentucky (0-2), 6-1 Saturday at Plainsman Park.

Auburn’s offense began, and ended, with Peirce on Saturday. Peirce put Auburn on the board first with a two-out triple in the 3rd inning to score [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag] and [autotag]Caden Green[/autotag] to push Auburn ahead, 2-0. He put a cap on scoring in the bottom of the 8th inning with a solo home run to extend Auburn’s lead to 6-1.

Ike Irish was Auburn’s offensive hero in Friday’s opener, and Peirce took control in game two. Head coach [autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] is pleased with the versatility of his offense through two games and hopes to see the trend continue.

“Two outs, two strikes, and (Peirce) hit that triple to get us going,” Thompson said Saturday. “We really needed that. I hope that this is an offense that we can keep talking about a different guy every night. I hope that’s how we’re built.”

Following Peirce’s triple in the 3rd inning, [autotag]Cooper McMurray[/autotag] crushed his first home run of the season over the right field wall to extend Auburn’s lead to 4-0. Auburn’s fifth run of the game came off the bat of Hernandez, who grounded out to the shortstop to allow [autotag]Sam Robertson[/autotag] to score from 3rd base.

Eastern Kentucky’s lone run was scored in the 5th inning when DJ Sullivan doubled home Santiago Peralta. Sullivan led the Colonels in hits with two.

Saturday also marked the return of [autotag]Joseph Gonzalez[/autotag] to the mound after missing 364 days due to a shoulder injury. He struck out two batters, walked three, and allowed an unearned run in five complete innings. [autotag]Zach Crotchfelt[/autotag], [autotag]John Armstrong[/autotag], and [autotag]Will Cannon[/autotag] combined to strikeout seven batters through the final four innings from the bullpen. Every out that Cannon recorded in the 9th inning was a strikeout.

The Tigers go for the sweep of Eastern Kentucky Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Auburn’s [autotag]Carson Myers[/autotag] will battle EKU’s Rian Yates on the mound.

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Former Jax State second baseman is headed to the Plains

Javon Hernandez led the ASUN in batting average last season by hitting .397.

[autotag]Butch Thompson[/autotag] has wasted no time beefing up his roster for the 2024 season and is working even harder at it now that five Auburn signees have been drafted by MLB teams.

The Tigers have been active in the transfer portal already and have added former Jacksonville State second baseman [autotag]Javon Hernandez[/autotag]. Hernandez is the second former Gamecock to announce his transfer to Auburn, following outfielder [autotag]Mason Maners[/autotag]’ lead.

Hernandez will come to the Plains as a senior. The Danbury, Connecticut native posted a batting average of .397 in 2023 – a mark that placed him 27th nationally and first in the ASUN Conference.

He also recorded seven home runs, 49 RBI, 89 hits, and 21 extra-base hits. Additionally, Hernandez led the Gamecocks in stolen bases with 11.

Hernandez is the fourth player to announce intent to transfer to Auburn. One transfer commit, [autotag]Sam Mongelli[/autotag], was recently drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the MLB draft.

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