Andrew Mitchell, Auburn shutout Alabama A&M, 5-0
AUBURN, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – Andrew Mitchell pitched six innings of one-hit ball with eight strikeouts to help Auburn shutout Alabama A&M 5-0 on Wednesday at Plainsman Park.
“I thought the shining point—I’m such a pitching guy and I’m always talking about how we need more and more; I think Andrew Mitchell is incrementally growing, growing at a little bit of a rate,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “He gave us five shutout innings last week, gets through six innings today and really helps us. When you play the Tuesday–Wednesday and you’re about to go on the road and play three opponents that are a combined 21-2, it really helped to get a good start today. He did that for us.”
Mitchell improved to 2-0 on the year and allowed just four base runners.
Auburn (6-3) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Niko Buentello. The junior leads the Tigers with 20 RBI in nine games this season.
Auburn used a two-out rally in the fifth to tack on three more after Jonathan Foster was hit by a pitch and chased home on a RBI triple by Anfernee Grier. Joshua Palacios reached on an error allowing another run to come home before Jordan Ebert doubled to plate Palacios and a 4-0 lead.
Grier, who had two walks in addition to his triple and two RBI, was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning to bring home another run for the 5-0 advantage.
Auburn relievers Marc Frazier, Izaac Yarbrough and Gabe Klobosits combined to toss the final three innings with just one hit allowed.
Alabama A&M (2-8) starter Parker Hill took the loss to drop to 0-1 with four runs allowed in five innings.
Auburn tallied a season high six stolen bases to increase its SEC-best total to 27.
The Tigers return to action March 4-6 at the Cox Diamond Invitational at the Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Fla. Auburn faces Troy on Friday at 6 pm CT.
