GAME SEVEN
By: Jacob Thimjon
OMAHA, Neb.- After only lasting two-thirds of an inning and surrendering four earned runs against the Oregon State Beavers in the Corvallis super regional, Auburn Tigers left-handed pitcher Trace Bright turned in one of his best starts of the season. Bright pitched five innings allowing just two earned runs, no walks and recording eight strikeouts with his team facing elimination.
“Trace Bright, I gained more respect for him today,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said.
Stanford grabbed an early 1-0 lead on just their third batter of the game when second baseman Brett Barrera delivered his 53rd run batted in on the season, a double to right field that scored Brock Jones, who got into scoring position after a steal of second base.
Stanford’s lead grew in the top of the second when back-to-back doubles down the left-field line from shortstop Adam Crampton and designated hitter Tommy Troy increased the Cardinal lead to 2-0. Auburn challenged the RBI double, contesting a foul ball on the double by Crampton that scored Troy; replay video review confirmed Crampton’s hit was a fair ball.
“I wanted to get us off on the right foot, and I kind of had us behind the eight ball for a few innings,” Bright said. “Once the offense got rolling, we were in a good place.”
Auburn threatened in the top of the fifth after the first two batters of the inning reached. Stanford starting pitcher Drew Dowd was relieved later in the inning by Cardinal left-handed pitcher Quinn Matthews. The Tigers would put runners on first and third in the inning. However, Matthews was able to work out of trouble after Tiger’s second baseman Cole Foster was caught stealing at third base after the Tigers attempted a double steal with two out to end the inning.
The Tigers threatened again in the top of the sixth when Auburn loaded the bases after left fielder Mike Bello and third baseman Blake Rabusch reached on back-to-back singles and first baseman Sonny DiChiara was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Bobby Peirce got the Tigers on the board with a bases-loaded walk to cut the Stanford lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth. The Tigers then took a 4-2 when Foster hit a three-run double off the left-center field wall.
Tiger shortstop Brody Moore delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that scored pinch-runner Bryson Moore from third base to extend Auburn’s lead to 5-2 in the top of the seventh. Peirce then doubled to left-center field to score third baseman Blake Rambusch to push the Tiger lead four runs at 6-2.
Stanford loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Auburn reliever Blake Burkhalter recorded a two-out strikeout of Barrera on a full count to escape the bases-loaded jam.
“The cutter was working, and the change up was working, and that’s what I had to lean on; I was right on the brink of walking him, but thankfully, I got that strikeout and got us off the field,” Burkhalter said.
Auburn’s pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts and allowed just two runs and one walk in nine innings to help secure the Tiger’s 6-2 victory.
Thompson said that postseason play is not just about advancing but rather having humility in competition.
“I’ve embraced every one of these teams we’ve got to play; I respect the game and care about the game so much,” Thompson said.
Auburn (43-21) will play Arkansas on Tuesday evening in its second elimination game of the Men’s College World Series.
Stanford finished its season at 47-18, won both the Pacific 12 Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and came in as the No. 2 team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, but lost its first two games at the MCWS for the first time in program history.
“I’m so proud of this team and in our program and our coaches,” Stanford head coach David Esquer said. “There is no shame in our showing here in Omaha.”