Series Evened

AUBURN, Ala. – Vanderbilt used a five-run fifth inning Saturday to take down Auburn 8-6 and even the series at Plainsman Park.

Six different Commodores picked up an RBI in the win and Vandy’s eight runs were scored by eight different players.

RJ Austin and Brodie Johnston led the offense with two doubles and two RBI each.

Auburn loaded the bases with one out in the first but Vanderbilt starting pitcher Ethan McElvain limited the damage with one run coming home on a sac fly.

The Tigers used a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to stretch their lead to 3-0.

Vandy punched back with a three-run top of the third. Braden Holcomb and Jacob Humphrey worked back-to-back walks before RJ Austin ripped an RBI double to the right-center gap, scoring Holcomb.

Brodie Johnston followed with another double, this one down the third base line, to plate Humphrey and Austin and tie the game at 3-3.

The Tigers retook the lead on a bloop single in the bottom of the third to go in front 4-3.

Five hits led to a five-run fifth inning for the Commodores as they took their first lead of the game.

Johnston doubled to lead things off and Riley Nelson walked. Colin Barczi hit a grounder to third and Johnston beat the third baseman to the bag as everybody was safe on a fielder’s choice.

Mac Rose scored Johnston on a groundout before three consecutive singles by Jayden Davis, Jonathan Vastine and Braden Holcomb plated three more runs.

With two outs, Austin hit his second double on the day to bring home Vastine and give Vandy a 8-4 lead.

Auburn got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to cut Vanderbilt’s lead to three. The Tigers used an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to make it an 8-6 game and put the tying run in scoring position, but Miller Green got a fly out to end the threat.

Green finished off the Tigers with two scoreless frames to earn his fourth save on the season.

No. 16 Vanderbilt (15-4, 1-1 SEC) and No. 25 Auburn (15-4, 1-1 SEC) wrap up the series Sunday at 2 p.m. on SECN+.