No. 11 Auburn baseball defeats No. 18 Georgia Tech in the middle of the week thanks to a late-inning surge.

In a high-stakes midweek clash that had the intensity of a postseason contest, No. 11 Auburn baseball delivered a statement victory on Tuesday night, surging past No. 18 Georgia Tech 7-4 at Plainsman Park thanks to a dramatic late-inning rally. The Tigers used timely hitting, clutch pitching, and electric energy from the home crowd to overcome an early deficit and notch a key win as they continue to build their NCAA Tournament résumé.

With both teams entering the contest ranked and eyeing postseason momentum, the game featured the type of edge and emotion that made it feel like more than just a midweek matchup. Auburn’s bats came alive in the final three innings, scoring six unanswered runs to erase a 4-1 deficit and secure their 28th win of the season.

“It’s just about competing for all nine innings,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said postgame. “This group showed heart tonight. That’s what it takes to beat a quality team like Georgia Tech.”

A Rocky Start

Early on, Georgia Tech controlled the tempo. The Yellow Jackets came out aggressive at the plate, tagging Auburn starter Grant Jay for three runs in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Tech’s designated hitter Drew Burress lined a two-run single into right field. One batter later, a sacrifice fly added a third run, giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead.

Auburn managed to scrape across a run in the bottom of the third thanks to a solo homer from junior third baseman Ike Irish, but Georgia Tech quickly responded with another run in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on an Auburn fielding error and a two-out single.

Trailing 4-1, Auburn appeared to be teetering. Their offense had been stifled by Georgia Tech starter Jackson Finley, who was mixing speeds effectively and working deep into counts. But that all changed in the bottom of the sixth.

The Comeback Begins

Down by three, the Tigers began chipping away. With one out in the sixth, senior outfielder Bobby Peirce ripped a double down the left field line. Irish followed with a walk, and first baseman Cooper Weiss loaded the bases with a bloop single to shallow center. With the crowd sensing a turning point, catcher Nate LaRue stepped in and delivered the biggest swing of the night — a two-run double that pulled Auburn within one, 4-3.

“I just wanted to stay short and get something I could drive,” LaRue said. “Coach always talks about not trying to do too much in those spots. Just get the job done — that’s what I tried to do.”

LaRue’s double chased Finley from the game, and Georgia Tech went to its bullpen to try to stop the bleeding. The reliever managed to escape the sixth with minimal damage, but the momentum had clearly shifted in Auburn’s favor.

Lockdown Bullpen, Timely Hits

Thompson turned to his own bullpen in the seventh, and the Tigers’ arms were lights out the rest of the way. Sophomore left-hander Tanner Bauman and senior closer Will Cannon combined to allow just one baserunner over the final three innings, keeping Georgia Tech off the scoreboard and giving the Auburn offense a chance to complete the rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, Auburn tied the game when freshman shortstop Cam Carter laced a two-out single through the right side, scoring Justin Kirby from second base. Then in the eighth, the floodgates opened.

With two outs and a runner on first, Weiss launched a go-ahead RBI double to deep left-center, giving the Tigers their first lead of the night at 5-4. Auburn wasn’t done. LaRue followed up with his third RBI of the game, a single through the left side to make it 6-4. An error by Georgia Tech’s third baseman on a routine grounder allowed another run to score, capping the three-run inning and giving Auburn a commanding 7-4 advantage entering the ninth.

Cannon slammed the door shut with a clean final frame, recording two strikeouts and a groundout to seal the win and earn his eighth save of the season.

Big Performances in Key Moments

LaRue was the offensive hero for Auburn, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Weiss added two hits, including the go-ahead double, while Irish’s early homer provided the spark the Tigers needed to stay in the game.

On the mound, Bauman was credited with the win after throwing two perfect innings and keeping the Georgia Tech hitters off balance with a mix of sliders and changeups.

“Our bullpen really picked us up tonight,” Thompson said. “When you’re facing a top-20 team, you need all hands on deck. Those guys came in and threw strikes. That’s what wins ballgames in May.”

Playoff Implications

The win improves Auburn’s record to 28-10 on the season and gives them another signature non-conference victory. More importantly, it bolsters their RPI and positions them well for a potential national seed if they can maintain their strong pace through the rest of SEC play.

For Georgia Tech, the loss drops them to 25-12, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of closing games out — especially against top-tier competition.

“This one hurts because we had control early,” Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall admitted. “But credit to Auburn. They kept fighting and executed when it mattered.”

Tigers Heating Up at the Right Time

With Tuesday’s win, Auburn has now won seven of its last eight games and is riding a wave of confidence as it heads into a crucial weekend SEC series against No. 7 Arkansas. The Tigers have found a rhythm on offense, averaging nearly eight runs per game over their last five contests.

Irish, Peirce, and Weiss have anchored the middle of the order, while LaRue’s emergence in clutch situations has added another weapon to Thompson’s arsenal. Meanwhile, the bullpen has settled in nicely, giving Auburn reliability late in games — a trait that was missing during some early-season stumbles.

“We’ve got a lot of belief in this clubhouse,” Irish said. “We feel like we can beat anyone, and we’re starting to prove it.”

Looking Ahead

The Tigers won’t have much time to celebrate. Arkansas presents one of the biggest challenges of the season, and Auburn knows it needs to stay focused if it wants to remain in the national seed conversation.

“Tonight was big, but it’s only one game,” Thompson said. “We’ve got to keep grinding. That’s what it’s all about this time of year — showing up every day and getting better.”

Still, Tuesday night’s comeback over a ranked Georgia Tech squad serves as a testament to Auburn’s resilience and rising potential. In front of a raucous home crowd, they demonstrated the kind of grit that could make them dangerous come June.

“This team has that fight in them,” LaRue said with a smile. “We believe. And when you believe, anything can happen.”

Game Summary:

• Final Score: Auburn 7, Georgia Tech 4
• Winning Pitcher: Tanner Bauman (3-1)
• Losing Pitcher: Ben King (2-2)
• Save: Will Cannon (8)
• Key Performers:
  • Nate LaRue: 2-for-4, 3 RBIs
  • Cooper Weiss: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run
  • Ike Irish: 1-for-3, HR, walk
  • Tanner Bauman: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
  • Will Cannon: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K