AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn won its second straight weekend to begin the season in Saturday's doubleheader split against Yale. The Tigers took game one, 4-3, on a walk-off home run before falling, 5-4, in extra innings in the hard-fought finale.
Kason Howell provided the fireworks in game one, leading off the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off solo home run to clinch the series for the Tigers.
"It's good to see Kason Howell be able to come up and do that," head coach Butch Thompson said. "He's a guy that's one of our leaders."
"The first game was great," Howell added. "I wasn't really trying to end the game there, but it kind of just happened. The count was 3-2, and I was just trying to get on in that last inning. Good things happen when you're simple in the box."
Game two was scoreless through six innings before the two teams went back-and-forth in the later stages, ultimately ending in Yale's favor.
GAME ONESophomore right-hander Joseph Gonzalez started game one of Saturday's doubleheader, facing a Yale lineup that came out swinging to the tune of three runs on seven hits through three innings.
However, Carson Skipper entered in relief in the fourth and settled things down, holding the Bulldogs scoreless and to only one hit in three innings of work. Skipper struck out four in his outing.
Yale starter Mike Walsh held Auburn at bay for the first three innings but ran into trouble after hitting three consecutive batters to load the bases in the fourth. Auburn cracked the scoreboard on a RBI fielder's choice from Cole Foster and cut the deficit to one on a RBI single from Howell.
The Tigers continued to fight back and tied the game on a solo home run from Sonny DiChiara in the fifth. The home run was the senior slugger's third in as many games at Plainsman Park to start his Auburn career.
Yale threatened to reclaim the lead with a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh, but Mason Barnett buckled down to keep them scoreless.
Blake Burkhalter (1-0, 0.00) entered to start the eighth and set down all six Bulldogs he faced in 21 pitches. With two more scoreless innings en route to earning the win, Burkhalter has retired all 12 batters he has faced through two relief appearances this season.
As the Auburn bullpen continued to give the offense a chance to get back in the game, Howell stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the ninth and hit a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence to end the game in walk-off fashion and clinch the series for Auburn. The walk-off homer was Auburn's first since Steven Williams' dramatic home run to defeat Georgia Tech in the 2019 Atlanta Regional.
The walk-off homer was Howell's third hit of the game, matching a career high in the category for the second straight day.
GAME TWOJunior right-hander Trace Bright and Yale starter Colton Shaw engaged in a pitcher's duel in game two, each turning in six scoreless innings in their start.
Bright was lights out for Auburn, matching a career high in innings while recording six strikeouts with three hits.
"Trace Bright pitched beautifully and gave us a chance," Thompson said.
Auburn had an opportunity to get on the board in the fourth inning. DiChiara led off the inning with his sixth double of the season and moved to third on a groundout but was stranded there to end the inning.
The two teams traded punches in the seventh. Yale's Jake Williams drove a ball down the right field line to give the Bulldogs the lead. Auburn answered right back as Foster delivered a two-RBI single through the right side to put Auburn in front.
Yale responded to even the score in the top of the eighth, but Blake Rambusch answered immediately with a solo homer on the first pitch of the home half to put Auburn ahead, 3-2.
Yale evened the score with a run in the top of the ninth, and the game ultimately went to extras.
The Bulldogs scored for the fourth straight inning after a leadoff walk eventually resulted in the go-ahead run. Yale added an insurance run that proved to be the difference on a two-out bloop hit to left field.
Auburn cut the deficit to one on a bases-loaded walk from Ryan Dyal in the bottom of the 10th and put the winning run in scoring position with one out. However, a strikeout and flyball ended the game.
The Tigers return to Plainsman Park next week with six games in six days, starting with a matchup against Alabama State Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.
Auburn wins series vs. Yale with split doubleheader
