AuburnFamilyNews.com: Despite Growing Pains, Tigers Take First Series of the Year

Monday, February 18, 2019

Despite Growing Pains, Tigers Take First Series of the Year

Georgia Southern @ #18 Auburn

  • Friday: 11-2 W
  • Saturday: 7-5 L/13
  • Sunday: 4-3 W/13

Perhaps we unsold the growing pains that would happen early this season. With the exception of Will Holland, Auburn broke in a brand new infield including a young man that had never seen a competitive pitch from 3rd base. That brand new infield looked the part this weekend with a combined 6 errors on the weekend. The outfield looked pretty solid, save for a Gronk Spike of a ball from Judd Ward on Sunday, but he made up for that with a freaking howletizer from Left Field on Saturday.

Perhaps we didn’t tell you that Georgia Southern won 18 conference games last year and returned most of their starters from last season and sprinkled in some excellent help in the offseason. The Eagles were an excellent test for Auburn and they played their part well. Trust me when I tell you, if they stay healthy, they will be a nightmare in a regional for some poor unsuspecting 1 or 2 seed. There were other things to point at, sure. Approaches at the plate, not looking at a couple of pitches, new players adjusting to the speed of the game, wild pitches and passed balls, playing tight when the game was close are all things that should figure themselves out as the season goes on. You saw flashes of what this Auburn team can and, in the best of times, will be this season. But there is still a long way to go. The good news is that there are still 53 games in the regular season to figure things out.

Pitching Performance of the Weekend

Boy, there sure are plenty of folks to choose from this weekend. Auburn trotted out 14 different arms this weekend, seven of which were making their Auburn debut. I loved how Carson Skipper, Ryan Watson and (from the sounds of it at least) Richard Fitts looked this weekend, but I fell in love again with Elliott Anderson. Anderson returned to the form we saw him in on an electric Saturday night in Starkville two years ago, as he went 4 innings of 2 hit ball with 7 strikeouts and getting the win on Friday night. Great first showing for the Junior and hopefully that will keep up all season long.

Batting Performance of the Weekend

This one is a bit tougher as the GSU arms kept Auburn quiet for most of the weekend but I think overall Edouard Julien had the most consistent weekend. The sophomore went 5-for-13 on the weekend with 3 runs scored, 5 RBIs and a walk and included an inside the park home run that tied up the game in the 7th inning on Sunday. There were still things to improve from the approach for everyone but there is now live video to adjust to, and I have a good feeling that Gabe Gross will have a few meetings today in the cage.

Around the League

This year we will add in another College Baseball article and do an around the league segment with short recaps and merge that with Power Rankings of the league! YAY MORE COVERAGE!!

On Deck

It will be a very eventful week for Auburn baseball both on the field and off. First, the Tigers host Alabama A&M for a Tuesday-Wednesday series (weather permitting), before taking to the road to take on the Knights of UCF in Orlando. UCF opened play with a series sweep of the Saints from Siena. Off the field though may be the more interesting situation…

Light some candles and say some prayers. Auburn is more in a spot to absorb a setback like this, but it would definitely be a blow to the pitching staff if Davis is out for an extended period of time.



from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/2/18/18229244/despite-growing-pains-tigers-take-first-series-of-the-year
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