COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 12 Auburn jumped out to an early lead and prevailed in the series opener as the Tigers defeated South Carolina, 4-2, Friday night at Founders Park
Auburn (21-5, 5-2 SEC) scored three runs in the top of the second and never looked back in the contest.
The Tigers improved to 7-0 in series openers this season with the win. Additionally, the team is now 19-2 when scoring four or more runs this season.
"You have to cherish it," head coach Butch Thompson said. "We've won every Friday night opening game, and my mind is already on the quick turnaround. Three of our losses have come in the second game. How focused can we get tomorrow?"
Tanner Burns (4-0, 1.40) earned the win after gutting out 6.2 innings on the mound, while Cody Greenhill picked up his team-best fifth save of the season.
"Going on Friday, the whole thing is to give your team a chance to win and keep the bullpen low," Burns said. "That's what I try to do to the best of my ability. I give credit to South Carolina. They can hurt you with any at-bat."
Kason Howell made a SportsCenter Top-10 worthy play to help retire the Gamecocks in order in the bottom of the first. Howell robbed Noah Campbell of extra-bases as he made a leaping catch and crashed into the fence in left-center field.
The Tigers then took the momentum from the field to the plate as the first five batters in the top of the second reached. Conor Davis stayed hot from the plate with a RBI single up the middle, while Howell and Judd Ward followed with RBI singles of their own on back-to-back pitches later in the frame.
After the two teams went scoreless in the third through the fifth innings, South Carolina cut into the lead with a two-run home run that followed an error to start the top of the sixth.
Burns ultimately tossed 6.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts before giving way to Elliott Anderson, who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings.
Auburn added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Matt Scheffler started the inning with a single and Rankin Woley drove him in on a two-out RBI double into the gap in left-center.
Greenhill made his 11th appearance of the season with a two-run lead in the ninth and shut the door on the win.
"I just wanted to come in and throw strikes," Greenhill said. "I knew we had the lead. I knew I had to get guys out. I was ready to get back on the mound and put last weekend behind me. It's a new day, new team. You just have to focus in."
Howell, Ward and Scheffler collected a pair of hits apiece, while Howell and Ward each drove in a run to pace the Auburn offense.
The two teams continue the three-game series tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT. Freshman Brooks Fuller (1-0, 1.62) will make his first SEC start opposite South Carolina's Reid Morgan (2-0, 2.56). The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.