Auburn Baseball Opens 2026 Season with Dominant Sweep, Lockdown Pitching, and Clutch Performances
If opening weekend was any indication, Auburn Baseball is coming into 2026 with something to prove - and the Tigers are already making a loud statement. A 3-0 sweep of Youngstown State, including a dramatic extra-inning walk-off and a seven-inning offensive explosion, showcased a team that’s not just talented, but already locked in on both sides of the ball.
Let’s break down what went right - and there was a lot - as Auburn kicked off the season with a perfect record and a ton of momentum heading into a loaded week ahead.
Quick Look: Week 1 Recap
- Overall Record: 3-0
- Non-Conference: 3-0
- SEC Play: Yet to begin
- Winning Streak: 3 games
Last Week’s Results:
- Friday: W, 2-1 vs.
Youngstown State
- Saturday (Game 1): W, 2-1 (10 innings)
- Saturday (Game 2): W, 17-2 (7 innings)
It wasn’t just that Auburn won - it’s how they did it. Two tight, one-run victories to start the series showed poise and grit. Then, in the finale, the Tigers blew the doors off with a 17-run outburst that left no doubt.
Players of the Week: Offense Comes Through in the Clutch
**Chase Fralick (So., C/IF - Peachtree City, Ga.) **
Fralick was the heartbeat of the Tigers’ offense and defense this weekend. He hit .500 (6-for-12) with a homer, two RBIs, and three runs scored - but the numbers only tell part of the story.
He scored the walk-off run in the 10th inning of Saturday’s first game, then came right back an hour later and launched a two-run homer in the first inning of the finale. That swing set the tone for a 17-run avalanche and capped off a weekend where Fralick was everywhere - at the plate, behind it, and in the biggest moments.
Just as impressive: he caught 19 of the 26 innings played over the weekend, guiding a pitching staff that allowed just four total runs and posted a sparkling 1.38 ERA. That’s a heavy lift for any catcher, let alone one doing it in the opening series of the season.
Eric Guevara (Jr., IF - Panama City, Panama)
Guevara was steady and consistent, collecting multiple hits in all three games and tying Fralick for the team lead with six total. He hit .462 (6-for-13), with three doubles - including a career-best two in the series finale.
Those three doubles not only led the team, but also placed him among the top hitters in the league for the weekend. Guevara’s ability to find the gaps and keep the pressure on opposing pitchers helped fuel Auburn’s offensive rhythm.
Pitchers of the Week: Lights-Out Rotation, Lockdown Bullpen
Auburn’s rotation came into the weekend with just one combined weekend start in a Tiger uniform. You wouldn’t have known it watching them pitch.
**Jake Marciano (So., LHP - Bayville, N.J.) **
Marciano made his Auburn debut in the season opener and didn’t waste time making an impression. He struck out 12 in five innings - a career high - and allowed just two hits and one earned run, with no walks.
He punched out multiple batters in every inning he pitched, including striking out the side in the first and fifth. He started his outing by striking out five straight and ended it with four more in a row. That’s dominance, plain and simple.
**Jackson Sanders (So., LHP - Opelika, Ala.) **
In his first career start, Sanders was calm, composed, and highly effective. He went six innings, gave up just two hits and one run, and struck out eight.
He faced the minimum through four innings and kept the Penguins off balance all day.
His 1.50 ERA tied for the league lead, and his six innings pitched were among the longest outings in the conference over the weekend. For a first start, this was as good as it gets.
Alex Petrovic (R-So., RHP - Cypress, Texas)
Petrovic closed the series with a statement. In five scoreless innings, he gave up just one hit - a leadoff double in the second - and then retired the final 12 batters he faced, eight via strikeout.
Nine Ks, zero walks, and a .063 batting average against? That’s how you slam the door.
Petrovic’s outing capped a weekend where Auburn’s starters combined for 29 strikeouts and just one walk in 16 innings. That’s elite-level efficiency and command.
**Garrett Brewer (Jr., LHP - Eau Claire, Mich.) **
Talk about a pressure-packed debut. Brewer entered Friday’s game in the ninth with a one-run lead and the tying run in scoring position - with no outs.
He struck out the first two hitters he faced and induced a flyout to lock down the save. That’s how you introduce yourself to the Auburn faithful.
**Ryan Hetzler (Jr., RHP - Corona, Calif.) **
Hetzler came into a 10th-inning jam with two on and nobody out - and struck out the side on just 10 pitches. That’s as clutch as it gets.
Auburn walked it off in the bottom half, and Hetzler walked away with the win. That’s how you seize the moment.
Team Notes: A Historic Start on the Mound and in the Field
This 3-0 start marks the fifth time Auburn has opened the season undefeated under head coach Butch Thompson and the 29th time since 1949. But what really stands out is the how.
- First Time Ever: Auburn opened the season with back-to-back one-run wins - a first in program history.
- Stingy Defense: The Tigers allowed just four runs all weekend - their fewest in an opening series since 2022.
- Strikeout Surge: Auburn pitchers racked up 43 strikeouts - the most in a three-game series since at least 1992.
- Rotation Dominance: Marciano, Sanders, and Petrovic - with just one prior weekend start between them - combined for 16 innings, 29 strikeouts, one walk, and only two runs allowed.
- Strike Zone Control: The entire staff threw 70% strikes (248 of 355 pitches). The starters were even sharper, landing nearly 75% of their pitches for strikes.
- Clean Fielding: Auburn played error-free baseball in 26 innings and 95 defensive chances. That’s the kind of clean, crisp defense that wins games - especially in close ones.
What’s Next: A Big Week Ahead
The Tigers won’t have much time to celebrate. Tuesday brings a home matchup with Cincinnati, but the real test comes this weekend in Arlington, Texas. Auburn’s headed to face three high-caliber opponents:
- Friday: Kansas State - 7 p.m.
- Saturday: No.
9 Florida State - 3 p.m.
- Sunday: No.
8 Louisville - 10:30 a.m.
This stretch will tell us a lot about where this Auburn team stands early in the season. But if the opening weekend was any indication, the Tigers are more than ready for the challenge.
Bottom Line: Auburn didn’t just win three games - they put together a complete team performance. Dominant pitching, timely hitting, and flawless defense.
It’s early, but this group already looks locked in. The road gets tougher from here, but the Tigers are off to a roaring start.