AuburnFamilyNews.com: Mid-week Round-up: Alabama A&M

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Mid-week Round-up: Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M @ #18 Auburn

  • Tuesday: 10-0 W
  • Wednesday: 12-6 W

So, this midweek series was exactly what it needed to be for Auburn. Get the young arms some good work, and do everything you can to get the offense back on track. There were a few timid moments early on Tuesday at the plate as the Tigers worked to rebuild their confidence and readjust their eyes from looking at mid 90s stuff that UCF pitchers were throwing to the mid to high 80s that the Bulldogs pitchers had, but Auburn was able to adjust. In the two games, Auburn was able to pound out 25 hits and hang 22 runs on Alabama A&M to get the bats back on track. Judd Ward (Bay-Bay) should be called out, as he had an 8 RBI showing for the series, including a monster 3-run blast off the foul pole that put this one away in the 7th on Wednesday. Also, Conor Davis provided a blast that should be admired in the highlights below.

On the bump, the Auburn pitching staff needed to rebuild their confidence as well and they had a strong showing, striking out 22 in the 18 innings against the Bulldogs while only walking 6. Another fun fact, Auburn used 11 arms against A&M. ELEVEN! And only four threw more than an inning. All in all, 2 good wins against a team Auburn should have and did dominate in all facets of the game.

Around the League

#1 Florida

Both games this week PPD due to weather.

#2 Vanderbilt

  • vs Evansville, TUE – 6-0 W
  • vs St Louis, WED – 10-2 W

Two yawners as Vandy does what Vandy does. Sure they are young but does it really matter with Rocker and all the studs out there?

#6 Mississippi State

  • vs Texas Southern, TUE – 8-4 L
  • vs Alcorn St, WED – 8-4 W

When people ask why I’m not releasing a power ranking of teams this early in the year, this is why. Texas Southern is bad. They just are. Mississippi State is good, pretty dang good. So how do I mesh that together if I have Moo State as a top 4 team still even after they turn in what will be one of the worst losses of the college baseball season? Cause its baseball. And that’s why we play 54ish games. Cause this is a weird game, and I love it!

#8 Georgia

  • vs Kennesaw St, TUE – 15-1 W

YAWN! Another of course they did!

#14 Ole Miss

  • vs Southern Miss, TUE – 4-3 W

This was probably the best game of the mid-week. I love that both Ole Miss and State normally play Southern Miss as the Golden Eagles always give their all against both schools. This time, the beer shower wins.

#16 LSU

  • vs Louisiana Tech, WED – 7-1 W

Good midweek win for the Tigers as LA Tech looks to rebuild their home base after the tornados in Ruston last season.

#17 Texas A&M

  • vs Houston Baptist, TUE – 4-0 W
  • vs Incarnate Word, WED – 4-0 W

Well the Aggies had an economical week to be sure…

Tennessee

  • vs Northern Kentucky, TUE – 15-1 W
  • vs UNC Ashville, WED – 12-1 W

Could this be the breakout year for Tony V and the Vols? A road series with South Carolina followed by series with Vandy and LSU will be a very early litmus test to be sure.

Alabama

  • vs UT-Martin, TUE – 10-5 W
  • vs Mid Tennessee St, WED – 12-6

Once again, Alabama is starting to show out in the non conf. Just like Tennessee, can the Tide keep things going once SEC play starts.

South Carolina

  • vs North Florida, TUE – 6-5 W

Thank goodness we still have 2 weeks to conference play cause I think I know what we have in Carolina this season, but I want to know a bit more before I go ahead with my thoughts.

Kentucky

  • vs Tennessee Tech, TUE – 13-3 W/7

Solid response as the Cats find themselves after a rough first 2 weeks. As we stand right now, Kentucky is the other team sitting out Hoover. And that is exactly what Nick Mingione doesn’t need after a lack luster year last season.

Missouri

  • @ McNeese, WED – 12-4 L

Well, good news for the rest of the conference as it looks like Missouri has thrown in the towel after the NCAA denied the Tigers appeal for postseason play, meaning that 1 team gets the reprieve and gets the automatic in to Hoover. However, from this result, it looks like Mizzou will do it honestly…

On Deck

Wright State @ #18 Auburn

  • Friday: 4 PM
  • Saturday: 2 PM
  • Sunday: 1 PM

I will just go on record saying, I don’t like this series. I have loved Wright State and their program for the past 4 or 5 years and they are the type of team that I don’t like playing Auburn after a rough weekend. I also am not a fan of no SEC Network+ coverage this weekend, so it really will be a box score view next week. Any who, the Raiders have had a rough start to the season to a point. They come in to Plainsman Park at 2-5 on the young season, dropping series to Mississippi State and Western Kentucky but they do hold a midweek victory over Louisville to their credit. On Friday night afternoon, look for the Raiders to go with Daniel Kreuzer, who enters the weekend with a 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings with 8 Ks and 6 walks. Kreuzer is coming off of an injury that cut his season to just 9 innings last year but normally sits in the low to mid 90s with his fast ball. Saturday’s have been Bradley Brehmer who has gone a little bit longer in games and gotten roughed up for it (8.18 ERA). Sunday’s for the Radiers have been Austin Cline to this point and probably will remain his after he notched his first win of the season last weekend against Western Kentucky. A transfer from Dayton, Cline is coming off of Tommy John surgery last year and appears to have regained a bit of that control, striking out 8 while only walking 5 but hold a 7 ERA to his name.

At the plate, Damon Dues is the bell cow for the Raiders, holding a .400 BA with a double and a triple to his name so far this season. Also, pay attention to Quincy Hamilton and Gehrig Anglin who are both hitting over .300 on the year. The main thing to remember with Wright State is that they are scrappers. They only have one home run to their credit so far this season (Tyler Black) so as long as Auburn plays sound defense and the pitching can locate, the runs for the Raiders should be limited. Another note to remember, Wright State is replacing their entire All-Horizon League outfield from last season, so watch to see if Auburn will test the arms of those outfielders if it’s a sacrifice situation. Again, I would prefer an easy matchup after last weekend but Butch Thompson wanted his team to be tested. Wright State is a very good program to do that against.

Prediction: Auburn wins the series 2-1 (please )



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