Auburn Baseball's Super Regional: A Night of Wild Swings and Weather Delays
Let me tell you, folks, last night at Plainsman Park was something else. Auburn baseball's Super Regional opener against Coastal Carolina? It was a rollercoaster –– literally. We had home runs, a weather delay that felt like it lasted forever, and a dramatic finish that left everyone on the edge of their seats. Honestly, it was a game I won't soon forget.
Early Home Run Havoc
Things started off with Auburn getting on the board first – a solid start that felt really promising. But then, Coastal Carolina's Blagen Pado decided to make a name for himself. Two home runs? Yeah, he launched them both over the left field wall. One was a solo shot, and the other a three-run blast that made the Auburn dugout look a little… glum. It wasn't just him either. Coastal's batters were on fire, making Auburn starter Sam Dutton's night a tough one. He ended up giving up six runs in just 3.2 innings—all of them on home runs, a stat that speaks volumes about the Chanticleers' aggressive hitting. Brutal.
The Weather Interrupts
Just when you thought things couldn't get more dramatic, the weather decided to join the party. A serious weather delay –– lightning strikes within eight miles –– put a halt to the game in the bottom of the sixth, with Coastal Carolina clinging to a 6-3 lead. I've been to a lot of games, but this was my first significant weather delay for Auburn baseball at the Super Regional level. You could feel the tension in the air; it was palpable.
- The delay: Nearly two hours of waiting
- The score at delay: Coastal Carolina 6, Auburn 3
It felt like an eternity. The delay itself added to the rollercoaster feel. When we finally resumed play, the atmosphere was electric—a mixture of nervous excitement.
Auburn's Fightback
But, here's the thing about Auburn: these guys never give up. Even with a sizable deficit and a long delay, they dug deep. The bullpen, featuring Carson Myers and Griffin Graves, pitched lights out, shutting down Coastal Carolina's offense, adding eight strikeouts between them while limiting hits. That was impressive. And offensively? Auburn chipped away, scoring runs in the sixth and seventh— including a game-tying solo home run by Eric Snow in the seventh! The comeback was on.
Heartbreak in Extra Innings
Then came the tenth. Honestly, it was a gut-wrenching finish. After Auburn failed to score in the bottom of the ninth, Coastal Carolina's Caden Bodine smashed a go-ahead solo home run off Ryan Hetzler. The Chanticleers held on for a 7-6 victory, ending Auburn’s night after a tense few minutes. It was a tough way to lose, but the Tigers showed a remarkable amount of fight. You just felt for the team after that one. So close, yet so far.
Looking Ahead
Game two of this best-of-three series is Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Auburn needs a win to stay alive, and with the heart they showed last night, I wouldn’t count them out just yet. It will be a crucial game for the Tigers' College World Series dreams.
