Auburn baseball wins slugfest vs NC State, stays alive in NCAA Tournament: Highlights – Montgomery Advertiser

AUBURN — After being on the wrong end of the shocking upset, Auburn baseball had to respond. Anything less and its season was over
It took four hours, and the Tigers traded plenty of blows with 3-seed NC State in a game that saw 30 runs scored on 32 hits, but Auburn got the response it needed, ending the Wolfpack’s season with a 17-13 result on Saturday, May 30, at Plainsman Park.
It gave Auburn to another day in its NCAA regional. It’s set to face the loser of Saturday’s late game between 2-seed UCF and 4-seed Milwaukee at 2 p.m. CT Sunday.
Auburn (39-20) wasn’t able to put itself in a pitchers duel. Instead, it was a battle of the bats, and the Tigers provided plenty of punch from the onset. In the first two innings, Auburn scored 10 runs, taking a double-digit lead over NC State (32-24), but it was nine innings of blows traded.
After the Tigers plated 10, the Wolfpack scored the next seven runs. Then it was Auburn’s turn. It scored the next seven, and NC State responded with six more.
Auburn starter Andreas Alvarez logged 5⅔ innings. Nine runs scored with him on the mound, but he was only responsible for four. The Tigers turned to more of their usual midweek arms — Griffin Graves and Garrett Brewer — who surrendered another three. Eventually, Auburn brought in Jackson Sanders, one of its best relievers, who was tagged for one run in 2⅓ innings.
A slew of Tigers provided plenty of offense. Chase Fralick, while logging just two hits, accounted for six RBIs. Chris Rembert (4), Mason McCraine (3), Ethin Bingaman (3) and Cade Belyeu (3) each posted more than two hits. Bingaman and Belyeu’s days were considerable, as four of their six hits left the yard, with two home runs a piece.
Here’s a look at how Auburn outlasted the Wolfpack.
M9: Auburn’s second baseman delivered a good start to the Tigers’ final frame at the plate, reaching on his fourth hit today. Bub Terrell and Ethin Bingaman didn’t do anything after, however, flying out and striking out, respectively.
With two outs and Cade Belyeu at the plate, Rembert tried to swipe second, but a late jump result in the final out, which was a bang-bang play at second.
It’s still 17-13, and Jackson Sanders is back on the mound, needing three outs to deliver Auburn a victory.
THRU8: Auburn couldn’t plate anything in its part of the inning, but neither did the Wolfpack, as Sanders stayed steady and the gloves provided plenty of relief.
That was evident on the first out, as centerfielder Cade Belyeu tossed himself into the wall to snag a ball that looked poised to leave the yard. Brandon McCraine made quick work of a ground ball in the next at-bat for the second out, but Ty Head slapped a two-out single against the shift.
The next hitter was the final out, however, which went down as a 2-unassisted, off a dribbler out in front of the plate. Chase Fralick applied the tag, and we’re heading to the ninth with Auburn still ahead, up 17-13.
M8: Auburn could’ve delivered a final blow in its latest trip to the plate, with the top of its order kicking off the frame, but the trio of Mason McCraine, Eric Guevara and Chase Fralick went down in order, seeing just seven pitches.
It’ll be Jackson Sanders back on the bump for the eighth, with Auburn holding onto a four-run lead, up 17-13.
THRU7: Griffin Graves was tended to for awhile after surrendering his first baserunner of the seventh, with trainers looking at what appeared to be a blister. He stayed in, however, giving up a single to put on a pair, which has advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch. That was it for him, and Auburn turned it over to LHP Garrett Brewer (1-2, 5.00 ERA).
He surrendered an RBI double to Dalton Bargo, then the Wolfpack plated another on a sacrifice fly that marked the second out. Eventually, Bargo scored on a wild pitch, and the Tigers brought in their best bullpen arm, LHP Jackson Sanders (1-2, 5.40 ERA).
Go figure, the first pitch Sanders threw left the yard, with pinch-hitter Vincent DeCarlo launching a solo shot to left. Sanders struck out the next batter to end the inning, and Auburn still leads NC State, though it’s only up 17-13.
M7: A two-out walk to Brandon McCraine wasn’t enough to spark another crooked-number inning, as NC State worked three fly ball outs for a quick start to the seventh.
Ethin Bingaman’s leadoff out was less of a flyout and more of a liner, which NC State third baseman Sherman Johnson snagged. Cade Belyeu and Taylor Belza both flew out to center, keeping it a 17-9 game, with the Tigers ahead.
THRU6: Andreas Alvarez, up to 105 pitches, had NC State’s Luke Nixon in a 1-2 count, needing one more strike to end the frame, but after two big flies pulled foul of the pole in right, the Tigers are making their first pitching change.
Lefty Griffin Graves (2-1, 6.23 ERA) entered in relief with two outs, runners at first and second and Auburn still ahead by 10.The first pitch Graves threw was roped into center, plating a run for the Wolfpack.
He worked a two-strike count against the next batter he faced, but it ended with the same result. Technically an RBI single into right, Mason McCraine darted an inning-saving throw to third for the final out of the inning.
It’s 17-9 Auburn.
M6: Technically, Ethin Bingaman led off the sixth with his third hit, dropping a ball down the right field line for a double, but Belyeu began the scoring, joining Bingaman in an impressive feat with his second home run today.
The two-run homer dropped onto the right field deck, and it made him and Bingaman responsible for four of Auburn’s five long balls. But the Tigers added three more in the frame, all coming with two outs.
Auburn lineup flipped over after the second out was record, that part of the order delivered. Mason McCraine logged his third hit with a double, then Eric Guevara walked. After that, Chase Fralick plated them both with a double.
The catcher was heads-up on the base paths with Chris Rembert in the box, as he advanced to third on a wild pitch. It was the right move, because Chris Rembert plated him with a single, and it put the Tigers back into a double-digit advantage.
Midway through the sixth, it’s 17-7 Auburn.
THRU5: That’s two-straight scoreless innings for Alvarez, and he set down the Wolfpack’s four, five and six hitters in 1-2-3 fashion.
Ty Head, Mikey Ryan and Sherman Johnson each put the ball in play, but none made solid contact, with a pair of fly outs and a grounder to Eric Guevara at third cementing an eight-pitch inning for Alvarez, who heads to the dugout having thrown 89 pitches and retiring the last seven hitters faced.
It’s still 12-7 Auburn.
M5: The top of Auburn’s order was tacked for the first two outs of the fifth, then Chase Fralick worked a two-out walk and Chris Rembert busted it down the first-base line for an infield single.
Bub Terrell had a chance to lengthen the lead, but he was unable to deliver, working an even count after falling behind 0-2, as his ground out to first closed the frame.
It’s still 12-7 Auburn.
THRU4: The would-be inning-ending double play that never was for Auburn in the third? It happened in the fourth, with Eric Guevara making swift work of a grounder to turn a 5-4-3 double play.
Alvarez surrendered one hit, but without, the Tigers wouldn’t have found the inning-ending play.
It was a 10-pitch frame, which feels considerable. Heading into the fifth, Alvarez will be at 80 pitches, and Auburn needs as much length on the mound as it can find.
It’s still 12-7 Auburn.
M4: The five-spot Auburn gave up to NC State in the third was far from ideal, but its freshman first baseman just padded the lead with home second home run today.
After Bub Terrell reached on a hit-by-pitch, Bingaman thought he drew a four-pitch walk. Ball four was ruled strike one however, and Bingaman picked up his already tossed bat to launch his 14th home run of the year into the deck in right-center.
Auburn’s next three batters went down in order, including a pair of hard-hit lineouts to center from Brandon McCraine and Taylor Bezla to end it.
It’s 12-7 Auburn.
THRU3: Up 10 runs at one point, Auburn surrendered a couple in the second, but it looked like it’d get out of the third without giving up another, as NC State’s Ty Head grounded to first for what’d be an inning-ending double play.
Ethin Bingaman’s throw to second went wide left, however. It plated one run, then a sac fly plated another, then another error added one more. Up next? A two-run shot from designated hitter Dalton Bargo.
Auburn found the last out eventually, but not before NC State made it a 10-7 game. In all, it was a five runs on three hits and two errors for the Wolfpack. Just two of those runs were earned.
M3: Eric Guevara worked a full count and delivered a leadoff single to start the third, but he stayed put at first, as Chase Fralick went down on strikes and Chris Rembert grounded into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
It’s still 10-2 Auburn midway through the third, with the top of NC State’s order due up: LF Johnson (0-1); 2B Nixon (0-1); 1B McHugh (0-1)
THRU2: The shutout’s no longer intact two innings into this one, as the Wolfpack tacked Andreas Alvarez for a couple of runs in its latest turn at the plate.
A trio of singles eventually delivered NC State’s first run, and the next at-bat plated another, with an RBI fielder’s choice for right fielder Andrew Wiggins.
That was the second out of the frame, and Alvarez logged his first strikeout today against nine-hole hitter Drew Lanphere to end it.
It’s 10-2 Auburn.
M2: Four at-bats into the second, Auburn’s latest frame hasn’t been as explosive as its first, but it has included its sixth home run in two games.
Bub Terrell’s leadoff walk was followed with an Ethin Bingaman flyout, but Cade Belyeu launched a ball that left the yard in the next at-bat, giving the Tigers a couple more.
Brandon McCraine had the second walk of the inning to follow, but a Taylor Belza strikeout and Mason McCraine groundout put an end to the frame, with Auburn leading NC State 10-0.
THRU1: After Auburn blew through NC State’s starter in the first, the Wolfpack didn’t come close to doing the same in the bottom half of the inning.
Alvarez three just 12 pitches in a 1-2-3 frame, which started with NC State leadoff man Rett Johnson grounding out to shortstop on the first pitch.
It’s still 8-0 Auburn, with the heart of its order due up: LF Terrell (0-1); 1B Bingaman (1-1); CF Belyeu (1-1)
M1: Auburn’s technically the “away” team in this one, so it started the game at the plate. And, man, it got pretty colorful in a hurry.
Mason McCraine kickstarted it with a leadoff single, then NC State’s trainer rushed out of the dugout four pitches into starter Cooper Consiglio’s outing. The lefty stayed in the game, nearly picking off McCraine at first, but he eventually surrendered a base on balls to Eric Guevara.
Chase Fralick went yard to follow, just over the left field wall, to the give Tigers a three-spot. Chris Rembert got all the way to second on a bunt single after Fralick’s plate appearance, and a passed ball moved Rembert up to third.
Bub Terrell plated him with an RBI fielder’s choice, then Ethin Bingaman went yard on the first pitch he saw.
After that, Cade Belyeu logged a single, Brandon McCraine reached on a hit-by-pitch and Taylor Belza singled into right and plated another. As Auburn flipped the order, NC State finally moved on from Consiglio, bringing in RHP Heath Andrews (3-4, 7.24 ERA). Andrews surrendered a couple more, with Mason McCraine and Fralick plating one run apiece.
The onslaught eventually ended, with Auburn leading NC State 8-0.
Auburn’s upcoming regional contest will air nationally on ESPN, and it’ll stream on ESPN+, which can be accessed with an ESPN subscription. Mark Neely and former Auburn pitcher Gregg Olson are expected to be on the call all weekend, handling play-by-play and color commentator duties, respectively.
Today’s game will be broadcast live on WMSP-AM (740) in Montgomery and WGZZ-FM (94.3) in Auburn. The radio call can also be streamed online. Andy Burcham and Brad Law are expected to be on the call.
Here’s who the Tigers and Wolfpack will have toeing the rubber:
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email atacole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter,@colereporter. To support Adam’s work, pleasesubscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

source