​​Lyle's Corner

Saturday, March 31st, 2018

I'm going to keep it short and sweet in today's news. First and foremost, the ninth-ranked Auburn baseball team turned in perhaps its most complete performance thus far this year in defeating 24th-ranked Missouri 5-2 at Plainsman Park last night. Will Holland (.348) led the Auburn offense with two hits and two runs in three at-bats.

Defensively, starting pitcher Casey Mize (6-0, 2.11) earned the win after allowing only two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in tossing 7.1 innings of action. Mize didn't walk a batter for the fourth straight start and has struck out 45 during that time frame. The Springville, Ala. native has struck out 70 batters and walked only three so far this season. Auburn improved to 22-5 overall, 4-3 in SEC play, marking the Tigers' best start to a season since going 24-5 in 2003. Meanwhile, Missouri slipped to 19-7 overall, 3-4 in the league.

The two squads will face off once again tonight at 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised on the SEC Network. Auburn's Davis Daniel (2-0, 3.86) will start at pitcher opposite Mizzou's Michael Plassmeyer (3-0, 2.45).

In other news....

- The softball team beat Ole Miss 3-1 last night in Oxford. The two teams will square off again at 4 p.m. CT this afternoon, with the game being available online at SECN+.

- If you've been following the football team as closely as I have, you're well aware that it has been plagued with injuries thus far this spring. Wide receivers Eli Stove and Will Hastings have already gone down, while QB Jarrett Stidham hasn't returned after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason. Today, head coach Gus Malzahn confirmed that Hastings had surgery on his ACL, which will obviously spell a lengthy recovery process for him. Plus, offensive lineman Nick Brahms is also out for the spring after suffering an ankle injury.

Stidham's prognosis is a little better, but Malzahn isn't ready to confirm whether or not he'll play in next Saturday's A-Day spring game. Regardless of what happens the rest of the spring, the Tigers are hoping beyond hope that they can avoid any more serious injuries. Although they still have some play-makers at receiver, the passing game could be hindered quite a bit if Hastings and Stove aren't ready to play in the fall. Only time will tell.

That's all for now. Until next time, Happy Easter, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Friday, March 30th, 2018

Happy Good Friday, everyone.

A tragedy has unfolded for the Auburn family. Former defensive back Zach Gilbert has died from an apparent suicide after investigators found him inside his home Wednesday afternoon, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. Although Gilbert's death remains under investigation, officials believe a single gunshot wound was self-inflicted, and there was no evidence of foul play. According to a report from AL.com, Gilbert was found at 1:40 p.m. inside his home in the 2700 block of 11th Avenue South.

The 33-year-old Gilbert was a walk-on for the Tigers from 2003-2006. He played in every game as a senior. In a 2015 interview with Auburn's official athletics website, Gilbert said that he obtained two degrees from Auburn and was able to conquer several hardships as a walk-on to play for the Tigers. "There have been difficult times," he said in that interview. "But I knew that football prepared me for them. It wasn't an easy task going down to Auburn as a walk-on and not only earning a scholarship but earning respect from coaches and teammates. I believed in myself and the abilities that God blessed me with. It's the same in this business.

"The main importance in life is your ability to impact others. What type of legacy are you leaving? So now I live my life with a totally different perspective knowing that I have the power to accomplish anything I want to with my priorities being in line." Gilbert stated that his favorite moment on The Plains was batting down a pass in the end zone against Alabama in the 2004 Iron Bowl. In that game, Auburn battled back from a 6-0 halftime deficit to beat the Tide 21-13 and complete an 11-0 regular season.

As of 2015, Gilbert owned Innovative Interiors, a furniture company, and worked as the Vice President Financial Consultant for Regions Investment Solutions in Birmingham, Ala., according to the story. Auburn University has yet to comment on Gilbert's death. If you or someone you know is suffering from mental illness, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There are representatives to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

None of us will ever know what drove Gilbert to this, but as a Christian, I can assure you of one thing: Contrary to what so many people believe, suicide is NOT an unpardonable sin. As long as one has Jesus in his/her heart, that person will NOT go to Hell, regardless of the circumstances surrounding his/her death. It certainly looks as if Zach had the Lord in his heart, so I'd like to think he's in a much happier place now, where there is no pain or suffering.

In other news...

- The baseball team hosts Missouri tonight at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The softball team plays at Ole Miss tonight at 6 p.m. CT in the first of a three-game series. Game 2 will be played tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. CT, with Game 3 to follow on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

Welcome another Auburn football player to the "Injured Tigers" club. Two sources told Auburn Undercover that center Nick Brahms broke the fibula bone in his left leg during practice Tuesday. Brahms had been working at third-team behind Kaleb Kim and Tucker Brown, respectively, in the Tigers' scrimmage last Saturday. A source said that Brahms is expected to be cleared for workouts in the summer.

"I thought Nick was making a lot of progress," Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. "....He had a really good scrimmage." As a senior in high school, Brahms also sustained a broken fibula, also known as the calf bone, in his right leg during preseason practice in August. The injury required surgery and kept him out for the entire season. However, the injury that he suffered Tuesday is not believed to be as serious.

Brahms is the fourth Tiger to suffer a major injury this spring, joining receivers Eli Stove (torn ACL) and Will Hastings (knee), and newcomer Daquan Newkirk along the defensive line. Auburn has not yet confirmed the injuries to Brahms and Hastings, but sources informed Auburn Undercover of the injuries on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

In other news....

- Shocking news broke for the basketball program this afternoon. Freshman point guard Davion Mitchell announced via Twitter that he is transferring from the team. Mitchell, a 6-feet-1 player from Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County, wrote "after doing my duediligence at Auburn, I have decided to further my academic studies and basketball goals elsewhere. I want to thank Coach (Bruce) Pearl and the Auburn family for the opportunity to play and embracing me and taking this young boy and shaping him into a young man."

Mitchell played in all 34 of Auburn's contests during the 2017-18 campaign, and was a valuable backup for a team that won the regular-season SEC title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was especially crucial when the Tigers were short-handed. Mitchell averaged 17.1 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.1 rebounds a game.

Mitchell nailed 45-of-105 shots from the field (42.9 percent). He was 15-of-52 from 3-point range (29 percent). He posted 63 assists to 38 turnovers. In SEC games, his production diminished considerably as he averaged 2.9 points, 1.8 assists and 0.9 rebounds. Only twice all season did Mitchell fail to play at least 10 minutes in a match.

In high school, Mitchell ranked as the No. 12 point guard and No. 59 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite. As a senior, he averaged 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Auburn has yet to comment on his departure.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Tuesday, March 27th, 2018

The latest on wide receiver Will Hastings' injury - and whereabouts - appears to be less than encouraging. His injury appears to be serious, though an official diagnosis has yet to be confirmed by Auburn. Hastings suffered a knee injury in the Tigers' scrimmage last Saturday, and as speculation continues to linger as to the extent of the injury, a source told Auburn Undercover that Hastings did not attend today's practice as a spectator.

Injured players generally attend practice and watch from the sideline, including receiver Eli Stove, who tore an ACL in his right knee and had surgery on March 13th. As for Hastings, he was scheduled to travel to the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida to be evaluated, but it's unclear if that has happened yet. Two sources told Auburn Undercover that the injury in question involves ligament damage, which could lead to him missing the entire 2018 campaign.

Head coach Gus Malzahn declined to comment on the injury when asked by Auburn Undercover on Saturday and multiple attempts seeking clarification from Auburn's athletic department have not been answered over the past two days. Auburn closed practice to the media today and no interviews were scheduled. Hastings, a former walk-on kicker, moved to receiver and became one of the Tigers' go-to targets last season. He caught 26 passes for 525 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 20.2 yards per catch in 2017.

Hastings rewrote the record books as a high school receiver in Arkansas, becoming one of the best players in the state's history. He caught 113 passes for 2,040 yards and 23 scores at Pulaski Academy, becoming only the second player in state history to surpass 2,000 yards receiving in the high school level. Upon arriving in Auburn, Hastings quickly rose up the depth chart as a role player, and eventually, as a starter. His swift feet have led his teammates to nickname him "White Lightning." He holds several of the team's best times in agility drills during the offseason.

In other news...

- The baseball team is playing Alabama tonight in the Capital City Classic at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. As I write this, the Tigers are leading 4-1 in the 6th inning. One other interesting note: In a rare (although not unheard of) occurrence, the game is not being televised anywhere. If you want to tune in to the game, you'll have to use your radio, computer, or cell phone. Doesn't that feel just like the old days?

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Saturday, March 24th, 2018

Auburn softball's 3-1 win over Kentucky last night was highlighted by Victoria Draper's 34th stolen base of the season, which broke a school record. The Tigers improved to 29-6 overall, 3-4 in the SEC. They pocketed this win thanks to five hits and an efficient outing on the mound and in the field. Draper was especially happy about achieving her milestone. "It's definitely fun," she said. "(Auburn head coach Mickey Dean) said I'd be running more before the season started. I would never have imagined this much. It's fun and it is great to get the first SEC win of the series under our belt."

Coach Dean admires Draper's work ethic. "She's earned it," he stated. "A lot of times you get a record where sometimes you didn't have to work to get it. She's worked really hard. She's amazing to coach." Draper's milestone mark came in the bottom of the fifth frame when she drove in Morgan Podany to give Auburn a 2-0 advantage. Her 34th stolen base of the year eclipsed the previous record held by Shannon Anderson in 2004. That stolen base proved to be pivotal as Draper would come around to score on a run-scoring single by Casey McCrackin on the 16th pitch of the at-bat to increase the Tiger lead to 3-0.

Courtney Shea smacked a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to give Auburn its first points of the day. The Wildcats (19-7, 2-4) got a run in the top of the seventh and appeared destined to score more with two men on, but Auburn's Kaylee Carlson rose up to get the final out to clinch the win and record her second save of the season. In the pitching category, Makayla Martin tossed 6 and 1/3 innings of action, giving up five hits and posting one strikeout. Martin, a junior, improved her season record to 11-3.

Offensively, Makenna Dowell and Podany led the way with one hit each. Meanwhile, Kentucky had six players record a base knock, while pitcher Grace Baalman took the loss after pitching five innings with three earned runs and two strikeouts. Auburn will host Kentucky again tonight at 8 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

In other news....

- The baseball team lost a heartbreaker to Kentucky yesterday by a score of 5-4 at Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington. The teams were originally scheduled to play again this morning at 11 a.m. CT. However, due to temperatures being in the mid-30s, and freezing rain in the area, the teams will now play in a doubleheader tomorrow. The teams will wrap up the three-game series with a seven-inning doubleheader Sunday starting at 12 p.m. CT. Both games will be available online at SECN+. You can also listen to Rod Bramblett and Andy Burcham call the action on the Auburn Sports Network.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

After months of uncertainty and wonder, Auburn fans now know about basketball guard Danjel Purifoy's future. The NCAA has ruled that Purifoy will be eligible to return after sitting out the majority of Auburn's non-conference schedule next season. He missed the entire 2017-18 season as Auburn reviewed information related to allegations that his family received money funneled through former assistant head coach Chuck Person. The allegations led to Person's arrest on federal bribery and fraud charges. He was also fired from his job.

Purifoy was not alone, of course. Center Austin Wiley also sat out this past season due to allegations that Person also funneled money to his family. Purifoy averaged 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 2016-17. "We worked diligently with the NCAA on behalf of both our student-athletes who were ineligible this season," Auburn University president Steven Leath said in a statement released yesterday evening. "The process was arduous, but it was important that we do everything we could to put Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley in the best position to resume their Auburn basketball careers. We're happy for them and their teammates and coaches."

Purifoy was held out during his first year at Auburn in 2015 due to academic issues. He was the state of Alabama's No. 1 prospect that year and was rated as a four-star forward out of Hargrave Military Academy in the 247Sports Composite rankings. The Tigers battled through depth problems this season, but managed to clinch the school's third SEC title while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. Auburn was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Clemson on Sunday.

As for Wiley, he is eligible to play next season, but is expected to test the NBA Draft before deciding for sure whether to return to Auburn for his final season. Only time will tell what he will do.

In other news....

- In the football department, Ryan Davis, the team's top receiver from last season, has been cleared to participate in full contact for spring practices after undergoing offseason surgery. Davis, a senior, was in a blue, full-contact jersey when the team returned to spring practice yesterday afternoon following spring break. He wore the orange, non-contact jersey for drills prior to this. Davis underwent surgery on his shoulder earlier this year.

Davis set Auburn's single-season record for receptions last year, catching 84 passes for 815 yards and five touchdowns. The next-closest to him in catches, Darius Slayton and Eli Stove, had 29 catches. Davis' return to full contact will greatly benefit the Tigers' receiving corps, which lost junior Eli Stove for the rest of spring practice due to a torn ACL. 

Auburn will return to practice tomorrow afternoon. The Tigers will allow a media viewing period during that practice, and head coach Gus Malzahn is slated to speak afterward.

- The baseball team fell to Georgia Tech 6-4 in Atlanta last night. The Tigers scored four runs in the last two innings and put the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but the valiant comeback effort fell short. Auburn fell to 19-3 on the season, while Tech improved to 12-8. The Tigers will continue their road trip with a three-game series at Kentucky (14-6, 0-3 SEC). The first game at Lexington is set for Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

It's unfortunate enough that the Auburn football team will be without Jarrett Stidham for a portion of spring practice due to injury. But to make matters worse, one of its top receivers is now on the injury list. According to a report from 247Sports, junior wideout Eli Stove tore his ACL in the final practice before spring break. Stove caught 29 passes for 265 yards and had 315 yards rushing with two touchdowns as a sophomore last season.

Brandon Marcello of Auburn Undercover reported Stove's injury this afternoon. Stove already underwent surgery on the damaged ligament on March 13th. Ryan Davis, the team leader in receptions last year, will be a senior this fall, and big-play threat Darius Slayton will return, as well as others. Still, this doesn't downplay the significance of losing Stove by any means. All we can do is hope and pray that he makes a timely recovery so that he can put the jersey back on in time for the season.

In other news....

- The baseball team will play at Georgia Tech tonight at 5 p.m. CT on the ACC Network (not SEC).

- The softball team will host Alabama State tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Monday, March 19th, 2018

Auburn softball defeated arch-rival Alabama 2-1 at Jane B. Moore Field yesterday thanks to Casey McCrackin's walk-off RBI single. The Tigers improved to 27-6 overall, 2-4 in SEC play. This marked their first SEC series win following a seventh-inning rally in which they scored two runs to down the Tide (19-7, 1-2) and clinch the series 2-1. 

The comeback began in the final inning with a lead-off home run from Alyssa Rivera to left-center field to tie the score at 1-all. Then, freshman Taylon Snow advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up McCrackin's game-winner. She drove in Snow with a screamer through the left side. "I was just looking for something over the middle," McCrackin said. "I got it through a hole and Taylon is fast enough to score at home."

Defense was the story for much of this one, as both teams tallied only three hits apiece going into the final inning. Auburn gave up two hits and a run in the first, but held the Tide in check the rest of the way with senior ace Kaylee Carlson (13-1) leading the way. Carlson, a right-hander from Garden Grove, Calif., surrendered just one more hit the remaining six stanzas, retiring 11 straight batters and striking out four. On Alabama's side, pitcher Courtney Gettins (7-2) stymied the Tigers for most of the afternoon, but allowed the late surge to pick up the loss. The junior allowed four hits and two runs. Auburn recorded five hits for the day.

Victoria Draper clinched her 50th stolen base as a Tiger in game three. Draper, a redshirt senior from Moulton, Ala., now has 32 stolen bases on the season, just one short of tying the school record. The Tigers will return to action on Wednesday when they host Alabama State at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The baseball team lost to Texas A&M 5-1 yesterday at Plainsman Park, but still won the series 2-1. The Tigers are now 19-2, 2-1 in the conference. Auburn will now be on the road for the next four games, beginning on Tuesday at Georgia Tech (11-8, 2-4). at 5 p.m. CT. That game will be televised on the ACC Network (NOT SEC. Read that carefully.)

- The men's basketball team fell to Clemson last night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by a score of 84-53, ending an incredible season in which Auburn went 26-8, 13-5 in league play. Frankly, the less said about this particular game, the better. But that can by no means diminish how far this team came. I'd say that the future is even brighter for this team, especially with Bruce Pearl in charge.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Sunday, March 18th, 2018

I'm pretty exhausted today after such a busy day yesterday, so I'm in "short and sweet" mode in my writing today. First and foremost, the men's basketball team defeated College of Charleston 62-58 on Friday night, and will face Clemson in the Round of 32 at 6:10 p.m. CT tonight. The game will be televised by TBS. I know as well as the team does that they're going to have to hit more shots (especially  free throws) if it wants to advance another step. One person on Facebook commented that Friday's win was the ugliest he'd ever seen since the football team's 3-2 squeaker over Mississippi State in 2008. Personally, I'd say that's a very accurate description.

- The baseball team overcame a 4-3 eighth-inning deficit yesterday to beat Texas A&M 11-5 at Plainsman Park yesterday afternoon. Not only does the victory mark Auburn's seventh this year when trailing or tied in the eighth frame, but also the team's 16th series victory dating back to the start of last season, and the first series win against the Aggies since 2014. The Tigers are going for the sweep this afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be able to write about that game in more detail tomorrow.

- The softball team rallied to top Alabama 3-1 yesterday at Jane B. Moore Field to give Auburn head coach Mickey Dean his first SEC win at the helm. The Tigers and Tide are playing the rubber match this afternoon. The game is available online at SECN+, and will be replayed at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Friday, March 16th, 2018

It looked bleak for Auburn when it trailed Memphis 4-1 entering the seventh-inning stretch on Wednesday. But the home-standing Tigers refused to die, surging back for a 5-4 win at Plainsman Park. Auburn scored three runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to pull it out. With the win, the Tigers improved to 17-1 on the season, matching the 1997 campaign for the best 18-game start in program history. This was their fifth one-run win this season, and sixth this season when trailing or tied in the eighth frame.

With runners on the corner bases and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Luke Jarvis came to the rescue as a pinch-hitter and smacked the first pitch he saw from Memphis reliever Takoda Metoxen (0-1, 7.20) into left field, allowing Edouard Julien to score and put Auburn in the lead. Lefty pitcher Welby Malczewski (1-0, 7.36) got his first career win after retiring the visiting Tigers in order in the final inning, including two strikeouts. In 2.0 innings of play, he struck out four batters - a career high.

Head coach Butch Thompson commended his team's determination. "We've been a resilient ball club," he said. "That's the sixth time or so we've been able to come up with something in our last at-bat or late in the ballgame. We've just hung in there. Once we got to the bullpen, we were able to put up a three-spot and string it together. The guys have just played steady. They've acquired a skill of being able to stay in there and feel like they're always within striking distance."

With the game tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Memphis mounted a 4-1 lead with two runs in the fourth and another in the seventh. But after Ryan Watson pitched 3.1 innings, Auburn's bullpen combination of Blake Schilleci, Corey Herndon and Malczewski kept the Tigers in the thick of it with an auspicious 5.2 innings of relief. All of Auburn's relievers tied or recorded a season-high in innings pitched. Schilleci stepped in with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth and kept Memphis in check, allowing just one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly to keep Auburn's deficit at two. He equaled a season-high with 1.2 scoreless innings and gave up just one hit with one strikeout. Nineteen of the 22 pitches he tossed were strikes.

Trailing by three in the bottom of the seventh, Auburn's offense came to life, cashing in on a pair of walks, wild pitches and balks from the Memphis bullpen to pull within one of the visitors. Shortly thereafter, Brendan Venter deadlocked the game on an RBI double into the left-center-field gap. In Auburn's next at-bat, Julien started the frame with a leadoff single and advanced to second on a brilliant hit-and-run before crossing home plate on a go-ahead single by Jarvis. As for Julien, this marked his sixth game with at least one hit. He has recorded multiple hits in two straight contests and four of his last six. Meanwhile, Will Holland went 1-for-4 with a walk and extended his on-base streak to all 18 matches thus far this year.

Auburn now enters SEC play beginning tonight with the first of a three-game series against sixth-ranked Texas A&M (16-2) at Plainsman Park. Tonight's game will begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised by the SEC Network. Meanwhile, Game 2 will be played tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT, with Game 3 to follow at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday. Those two will be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The men's basketball team plays in the NCAA Tournament tonight against the College of Charleston in San Diego, Calif. at 6:27 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by truTV.

- The softball team will host Alabama tonight at Jane B. Moore Field. The game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Auburn baseball defeated Georgia Tech 12-7 yesterday in Plainsman Park thanks to all nine starters recording at least one hit and reaching base at least twice. The Tigers improved to 16-1 on the season, while Tech fell to 9-7. The Tigers came out on fire, scoring in each of the first four innings to take a commanding 7-0 lead. But Tech responded with five runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the margin to 7-5. Auburn, however, went right back to work, tallying five runs of its own in the home half of the sixth, and wrapping up the win in the process, largely thanks to 3.0 scoreless innings from relief pitcher Jack Owen.

Sophomore Elliot Anderson (3-0, 4.50) got the victory by tossing a career-high 3.1 innings and posting three strikeouts. This marked Anderson's second save of the season, who tied a season-high for Auburn relievers with five strikeouts. Head coach Butch Thompson was pleased with his team's performance. "I loved the way we came out swinging the bats tonight, and were able to score to start the game," he said. "We just had trouble shoving the ball in the strike zone. We're winning and I'm thankful for that, but we need to continue to grow our ball club."

Josh Anthony got Auburn on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-RBI double, and the Tigers never eased up. The two first-inning runs were the Tigers' 25th and 26th of the year. Auburn extended its lead in the second when Will Holland used the second pitch of the frame to clear the wall at left field. Later in the inning, Steven Williams used a fielder's choice to score on a wild pitch to put the Tigers up 3-0. Auburn struck again in the third on an RBI from Holland, then got two more runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded single from Jay Estes and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Edouard Julien to make it a 7-0 Tiger cushion. 

That's when Tech rose up with the aforementioned five-run fifth to make a game of it, but Auburn lefty Welby Malczewski, who came into the contest with the tying run on base, made a double play to end the inning and keep the Tiger lead alive. Auburn then put this one away with five more runs in the sixth, marking the 17th time in as many games that the Tigers have scored four runs or more in an inning this season. The icing on the cake came on a two-RBI double from Williams, while Julien, Luke Jarvis and Conor Davis also got RBIs in the frame.

Five Auburn batters, namely Jarvis, Brendan Venter, Julien, Anthony and Holland each made two or more hits

while a total of seven players reached base three or more times. In Venter's case, this was his 11th multi-hit game in the last 14 matches, and 12th this season. Also, for Davis and Holland, they extended their on-base streaks to 17 games. The Tigers will host Memphis (6-10) at 3 p.m. CT this afternoon in Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The softball team will host Alabama on Friday night at 6 p.m. CT in Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Tuesday, March 13th, 2018

The 10th-ranked softball team swept Southern Miss in a doubleheader yesterday by respective scores of 9-2 and 5-0 at the Southern Miss Softball Complex in Hattiesburg. Auburn's offense clicked on all cylinders in Game 1 with a season-high 17 hits, led by freshman Taylon Snow's 4-for-5 performance at the plate. She was one of five Tigers with multiple hits. K.K. Crocker and Casey McCrackin tallied three hits each, while Victoria Draper and Jenna Olszewski both had two.

Auburn got on the board first when McCrackin smacked a three-run homer in the first inning, her third of the season and second of the Louisiana/Mississippi road trip. She finished the first game 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Olszewski cashed in the first of two RBI on a sacrifice fly to center in the third and followed with a RBI single in the fifth, the first of four runs scored in that frame. Soon after, Morgan Podany plated McCrackin on a sacrifice fly  and Olszewski scored on an RBI single by Crocker. Taylon Snow scored the inning's last run on a RBI double. Makenna Dowell scored Auburn's final run on an RBI single in the sixth.

Freshman Chardonnay Harris got her first collegiate start in the circle and had a solid day, pitching 2.2 innings with three hits and one run allowed. Ashlee Swindle (2-0) came in to relieve her in the third and finished the game for her second win of the year. In 4.1 innings of play, Swindle posted four strikeouts while giving up five hits and one run. On the other side of the coin, Southern Miss starter Jillian Johnson (0-3) took the loss after yielding 12 hits and eight runs.

In Game 2, Auburn senior Kaylee Carlson turned in an excellent performance in the circle to pick up her 12th win of the season. She tossed 6.0 innings of play, giving up just three hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Freshman Kara Bilodeau pitched the seventh to close out the contest. It marked the 17th shutout this season for the Tigers, the sixth-most in single-season program history.

In the batting department, Taylon Snow continued to shine, posting two hits and a RBI. The freshman was 6-for-8 for the doubleheader. McCrackin also had a solid showing, cashing in her second homer of the afternoon to give Auburn a 4-0 lead in the sixth. McCrackin batted .421 for the trip, going 8-for-19 in the box with three home runs and seven RBI. Tannon Snow drilled a solo homer in the seventh, marking her fourth round tripper of the season.

With the two victories, Auburn improved to 25-5 on the season (0-3 in the SEC) while Southern Miss slipped to 10-16. Kim Crowson (5-5) took the loss for the Golden Eagles in Game 2, allowing four runs on five hits. The Tigers can now prepare for a seven-game home stretch beginning Friday through Sunday against Alabama. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT Friday at Jane B. Moore Field. The game will be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The baseball team hosts Georgia Tech tonight at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, March 12th, 2018

Auburn softball dropped the series finale to LSU yesterday in Baton Rouge by a final score of 1-0 in Tiger Park. In a highly uneventful game, Auburn's Makayla Martin (9-3 on the season) engaged in a fierce pitcher's shootout with LSU's Carlee Hoover (9-1). The two combined for 13 strikeouts and eight hits. Martin tossed for six innings, giving up five hits and posting five strikeouts. The junior from San Diego, Calif. didn't surrender a run until the bottom of the sixth when LSU's Sydney Springfield singled with two on to score the contest's lone run.

Auburn fell to 23-5 while the home Tigers improved to 22-2 on the year. Auburn lost by a combined three runs over the weekend sweep, and this was the first time the Tigers were swept in SEC action since Missouri accomplished the feat in April 2014. Junior second baseman Casey McCrackin led the Auburn offense with two hits, her fourth multiple-hit game of the season. Courtney Shea tacked on the Tigers' third hit in the top of the seventh. Meanwhile, LSU recorded five hits, two courtesy of Aliyah Andrews, who closed out the weekend with nine hits.

Auburn must now focus on a doubleheader with Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. this afternoon, with Game 1 at 2 p.m. CT, and Game 2 to follow at 4:30 p.m. CT.

In other news....

- The men's basketball team now knows its destination for the NCAA Tournament. Despite a blowout loss to Alabama in Game 1 of the SEC Tournament, the Tigers have still earned a No. 4 seed in the Midwest region, and will play No. 13 seed College of Charleston on Friday in San Diego. If the Tigers win, they'll move on to play the winner of a game between No. 5 seed Clemson and No. 12 seed New Mexico State. College of Charleston made the field of 68 by winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament title.

Auburn and College of Charleston will tip off at 6:27 p.m. CT on Friday, but the network televising the game is one that none of us is used to seeing a sporting event of any kind on: truTV.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Sunday, March 11th, 2018

Once again, I'm in the "short and sweet" mood for today's news. First off, Auburn baseball wrapped up its final non-conference series yesterday by splitting a doubleheader with Northeastern in Plainsman Park. The Tigers won Game 1 by a score of 14-8, largely thanks to six home runs. However, Northeastern claimed Game 2 by a score of 2-1. Auburn is now 15-1 on the year. The Tigers went into Game 2 as one of just two unbeaten teams in the nation, and the team's 15 straight victories to start the season was the third-longest streak in program history.

"Our guys were up there swinging," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We had a great approach in game one, and we even worked hard in the second game. That was just a quality pitcher, and it was going to take an arm like (Northeastern's Sean Mellen) to slow us down. He was ready for the challenge." With that series in the books, Auburn will now look ahead to two midweek contests against Georgia Tech on Tuesday and Memphis on Wednesday. The first pitch for both games is set for 6 p.m. CT, and they will both be available online at SECN+.

In other news....

- The basketball team lost to Alabama 81-63 on Friday in the SEC Tournament, giving the Tigers a quick exit. However, they aren't done for the season, as they will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. The team will learn its destination on "The Selection Show" this afternoon at 5 p.m. CT on TBS.

- The softball team lost to LSU by a score of 3-2 in Baton Rouge yesterday. However, the teams will face off again this afternoon at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Auburn is currently  23-4 on the season, and 0-2 in SEC play.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Saturday, March 10th, 2018

I'm going to be as short and concise as possible with the news in this post. First off, the baseball team shut out Northeastern 6-0  in Plainsman Park yesterday evening. What's particularly noteworthy about the game is that junior pitcher Casey Mize recorded the program's first no-hitter since 2002. The last time that happened, nine Auburn pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against UAB on March 19th of that year. It was also the team's first complete-game no-hitter since Eric Brandon did so against Murray State 17 days prior to that. This also marked Auburn's ninth no-hitter in program history.

The victory improved the Tigers to 14-0, marking the second-best start in program history. It was also Auburn's 12th straight win at home, tying a Plainsman Park record previously achieved in 2001. Individually, Mize struck out 13 Northeastern batters, the most by an Auburn pitcher since Luke Jacobs duplicated that figure against Alabama State on Feb. 28, 2012. Auburn and Northeastern are back in action with a doubleheader today, with the first game having begun at 1 p.m. CT, and the second game to follow at 4:45 p.m. CT. As I write this, Game 1 is still in progress, with the Tigers leading 14-5.

In other news....

- Quarterback Jarrett Stidham will be able to throw the football when the Tigers return to practice on March 20th. The returning starter has tossed some light throws during warmups in practice up to this point, but has done so without using his left, non-throwing shoulder in the follow-through motion. Head coach Gus Malzahn said Stidham will be able to throw non-contact and participate in seven-on-seven drills. Let's hope all goes well for him.

- Aside from quarterback, three other injured players are expected to return to spring practice when the team comes back from spring break. Receivers Nate Craig-Myers and Will Hastings are expected to participate in full-contact drills by then. Also, starting nickelback Jordyn Peters is said to be no worse for wear after a scary tumble to the turf early in practice Tuesday. He smacked into an offensive lineman and had to be helped off the field, although he was able to walk on the sideline.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Thursday, March 8th, 2018

Auburn baseball rallied back to beat UAB 11-8 in Regions Field in Birmingham on Tuesday night. Down 8-3 in the top of the seventh, the Tigers used three-run homers in the seventh and eighth frames to overtake the Blazers. Auburn is now 13-0 on the season, tying its second-best start in program history.

UAB drew first blood as it got a run on a sac fly to center field in the bottom of the first. But the Tigers responded quickly as Josh Anthony and Jeremy Johnson reached on a walk and hit-by pitch with one out in the top of the second. Anthony pranced in to score on a failed pickoff attempt, and Jay Estes allowed Johnson to score on a groundout to put Auburn on top.

UAB grabbed the lead back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Carter Pharis smacked a lead-off home run to left field, and the Blazers' next five batters reached to take a 4-2 advantage via a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single. In the fifth, the Tigers appeared on the brink of tying the game when Conor Davis came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Davis smacked a chopper back to the mound and the second out of the frame was recorded at the plate, but the ensuing throw to try to double off Davis at first soared down the right-field line. But Davis was ruled out on runner's interference and the inning ended with the Tigers having been held scoreless.

In the fifth, UAB got two unearned runs to increase its advantage to 6-2. But Auburn retaliated when Estes hit a two-out double and came in to score on an RBI single from Edouard Julien in the top of the sixth. The Blazers answered with a two-run homer by Zack Davis in the bottom of the stanza to make the score 8-3. But as the seventh inning began, the Tigers got their comeback capers in gear. Josh Anthony drilled a two-out, three-run homer to trim the margin to 8-6. In the eighth, with Auburn trailing by one, Brett Wright, who entered the game as a defensive replacement the inning before, put the Tigers ahead to stay with a three-run homer of his own. It was his team-best third home run of the season. Auburn got another run in the top of the ninth on Estes' second double of the night before freshman right-hander Cody Greenhill put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the frame. This marked the Tigers' fifth win this season when trailing or tied in the eighth inning.

Greenhill entered the contest in the bottom of the eighth and retired all six UAB batters he faced - three by way of strikeouts - to clinch his team-best third save of the season. Senior Corey Herndon pitched an inning of relief and earned the win, while UAB pitcher Ty Harris suffered the loss. "We finally locked down the last four innings," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. "It looked like a long night for the Tigers, but the resiliency of our guys showed up. Josh Anthony was a big spark and Brett Wright matched him with a big swing to bring us all the way back." With eight runs in the final three innings of this match, the Tigers have now outscored their opponents 37-6 in the final third of the game this season.

The bottom-third of the Auburn lineup sparked the comeback in this one as Estes, Julien and Will Holland each made two or more hits and scored a combined five runs. Anthony and Wright also tallied six runs with the aforementioned deep balls. The Tigers will host Northeastern in their final non-conference weekend series this Friday through Sunday. The first pitch in Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, with games two and three to follow on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.  The games will be available online at SECN+.

In other news.....

- The softball team will play at LSU tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The SEC Network's broadcast team for Auburn football's A-Day Game on April 7th has been set. Clay Matvick will call the play-by-play, while Jordan Rodgers will handle the color commentary, and Laura Rutledge will serve as the sideline reporter. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. CT. BTW, isn't it exciting to know that the game is just less than a month away now? It is for me, anyway.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Sunday, March 4th, 2018

After 6,995 days, the Auburn basketball team is celebrating an SEC championship. The Tigers defeated South Carolina 79-70 yesterday afternoon in Auburn Arena to clinch the crown and set off a wild celebration. The title is the third in program history, joining the 1960 and 1999 squads. "The guys wanted to make history," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Winning a championship at Auburn means a lot." True. Especially after you've waited so long for it to happen.

"It's unreal. It's so unbelievable right now," Bryce Brown said. He scored 29 points on the day, including eight 3-pointers. More significantly, he became the 36th Auburn player in history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark.

"I've got to thank the Lord for everything He's done for me. Knowing where we came from and where we are now, it just feels unreal. I'm so thankful, I'm so blessed." Brown nailed a pair of treys during an 8-0 run early in the second half to help the Tigers grab the momentum in a nip-and-tuck game.

Jared Harper was close behind with 18 points and eight assists while only committing two turnovers in 36 minutes of play. Mustapha Heron tallied 12 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 in free throws. Horace Spencer scored 11. "Bryce Brown got back to doing what he does," Pearl said. "If he can see it, he can make it. He was the difference for us offensively."

For much of the first half, it looked like Auburn's conference title dreams were fading. The Gamecocks held a 14-point lead with 9:17 left while the Tiger offense was out of sync. But Auburn refused to throw in the towel.  The team started 1-of-15 in 3-pointers before Brown hit the first of his four first-half treys with 4:51 to go in the half. "We had to fight through adversity," Brown pointed out. We had to regroup and stick together, play together, and take better shots. That's all it really was."

The Tigers canned five of their last seven long shots in the half, with Brown sinking three in a span of 2:12 to pull his team to within one at 34-33 with 1:13 remaining.  Heron's free throws put Auburn on top before Frank Booker gave South Carolina a 37-35 halftime advantage on a long 3-pointer with five seconds to go. The Tiger defense kept Auburn in the game in the first half, forcing 12 turnovers while the offense committed just five. Auburn forced 20 turnovers for the day, leading to a commanding 20-0 advantage in fast-break points.

Chuma Okeke led the Tigers in rebounds with nine, while Spencer was close behind with six. "When you hang in there on the boards, and you turn somebody over, it just speaks to the effort and the resiliency," Pearl stated. Auburn (25-6 overall, 13-5 SEC) will enter next week's SEC Tournament in St. Louis as the No. 1 seed. The Tigers will play again on Friday at noon CT. "To win the league wire to wire in a year where, I don't know if any of you have seen it better top to bottom, or bottom to top, is a tremendous accomplishment," Pearl emphasized. "This championship means more in 2018 because of how great our league is."

In other news....

- The baseball team won both games in a doubleheader against BYU yesterday by respective scores of 21-4 and 9-5 to remain undefeated at 12-0. They will return to action on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. CT in a trip to UAB at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala. The game will be televised by C-USA TV.

- The softball team is hosting UNC-Wilmington this afternoon, and the game is available online at SECN+. As I write this, the game began about 40 minutes ago.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Friday, March 2nd, 2018

The Auburn football program added former Arkansas State offensive lineman Bryce Giddens to the staff as a graduate assistant yesterday, Auburn Undercover reported today. Giddens played center under Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes during the 2012 season on Gus Malzahn's staff at Arkansas State. Giddens comes to The Plains after a one-year stint coaching tight ends at his alma mater of Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga.

He will serve as Grimes' graduate assistant for the offensive line at Auburn. Malzahn said today that paperwork for an unidentified graduate assistant would be cleared at 2 p.m. (CT), but Giddens was seen at practice less than two hours later. Auburn Undercover confirmed this morning that Giddens is the final piece to the graduate assistant puzzle. As of this writing, though, the university has not yet confirmed the hiring.

Auburn has made numerous changes to its support staff in the offseason, particularly after offensive analysts Al Borges and Brian Blackmon left to accept on-the-field positions at UTSA and Troy, respectively. Plus, longtime analyst Brandon Wheeling left the program to pursue a career in the private sector. Additions to Auburn's support staff include the following:

- Former Auburn quarterback Barrett Trotter (offensive analyst)

- Former Auburn defensive end Craig Sanders (graduate assistant to defensive analyst)

- Former Missouri analyst Jonathan Rutledge (special teams analyst)

- Former Colquitt County (Ga.) assistant Bryce Giddens (offensive line graduate assistant)

Giddens was on the Remington Trophy Watch List in 2013. The former two-star recruit started the final 11 games of the Malzahn era at Arkansas State in 2012. The Red Wolves ranked in the top 30 in sacks allowed, total offense, passing offense, rushing offense and scoring offense. The offensive line helped the Red Wolves become one of the five best Sun Belt Conference teams ever in multiple offensive categories.

In other news....

- The women's basketball team lost a heartbreaking 64-61 decision to Tennessee last night to end its season at 14-15. In a wild game that provided 14 ties and 15 lead changes, the Vols shattered Auburn's hopes on a decisive 3-pointer with half a second remaining in the game.

- The baseball team hosts BYU tonight at 5 p.m. CT in Plainsman Park. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The softball team will face off against UNC-Wilmington in the Wilson/DeMarini Classic in Auburn this afternoon at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+.

- The men's basketball team hosts South Carolina tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. This is the Tigers' final chance to claim at least a share of the SEC title.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Thursday, March 1st, 2018

I've come across quite a few headlines that I deem significant today, so I'll elaborate on one and be short and sweet with the others. First off, Auburn has a new special teams coordinator. Word broke last night that tight ends coach Larry Porter will take on that position this season. Porter will take over the duties held last season by Tim Horton, who coached special teams following Scott Fountain's departure after the 2016 campaign.

Horton's special teams units sputtered last season, especially in punting and the return units. Auburn ranked 115th nationally in net punting (35.61 yards) and 51st in punt returns (8.5 yards). In addition to special teams, Porter will coach tight ends and fullbacks during spring practices, which began today. Horton will coach punt returns, Porter will handle punters and kickoff returns, and linebackers coach Travis Williams will coach kickoffs. Porter coached special teams for three seasons at North Carolina. The Tar Heels ranked 1st nationally in punt return defense (0.22 yards) and second in kickoff return average (26.97) in 2016.

In other news....

- Incoming defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk will miss all of spring practice and undergo surgery to repair a torn Achilles heel that he suffered Wednesday, head coach Gus Malzahn reported. However, he expects the four-star newcomer to be back for preseason camp in August. Best wishes to him as he starts the road to recovery.

- Defensive end Paul James III has left the program. The junior college transfer struggled to break into the starting rotation after the arrival of Marlon Davidson in 2016. James III leaves Auburn having recorded 12 tackles (two for loss) in 12 games in two seasons on the Plains.

- Receiver Ryan Davis, who led the Tigers last season with 84 receptions for 815 yards and five TDs, will miss a portion of spring practices after undergoing a minor shoulder surgery. He will wear an orange, non-contact jersey during the first four practices of spring drills, but according to Coach Malzahn, he will be expected to be "full speed" when the team returns from spring break to practice on March 20th. Davis is one of several players to undergo surgery or be in the mix for surgery in the offseason. In addition to Jarrett Stidham and Daquan Newkirk, freshman linebacker Josh Marsh underwent surgery to repair a patellar tendon.

- The women's basketball team will face Tennessee in the second round of the SEC Tournament tonight at 6  p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

March 2018