Auburn University’s baseball team, ranked fifth nationally, secured a 12-3 victory over Nebraska on Sunday at Plainsman Park. The win ensured Auburn’s 11th consecutive regular season home series triumph, a streak that began in the final series of the 2024 season. It also marked the first time since week 13 of the 2024 season that Auburn won a series after losing the opening game.
Head coach Butch Thompson commented on his team’s performance: “I tried to convey that we completed good Friday night. I think they gave us pretty good effort all week,” Thompson said. “We can take a lot from this. It’s the first time since Missouri in 2024 for us to lose the first game of a series like that and come back and find a way to win. To really play pretty competitive in all phases against a team like we’re going to be playing here the rest of the year is positive.”
Chase Fralick delivered one of the game’s key moments with a three-run home run in the second inning, increasing Auburn’s lead to 5-0. Reflecting on his performance, Fralick said: “I saw a good pitch. I had a good count, got a good swing off and the ball went out,” he explained about his home run. “It’s been awesome. We have had a way better approach, a more refined approach, and had a better game plan going in and it showed in the last two games.”
Starting pitcher Alex Petrovic improved his record to 3-0 by limiting Nebraska to two runs (one earned) over five innings while striking out seven batters. Petrovic credited Auburn’s early offensive surge for allowing him to pitch more comfortably: “It gives you the chance to pitch with a lead and that changes the way you approach things with the strike zone,” he said about having an early advantage. “Like we talk about, it just makes it easier knowing you have runs, a great lineup and a great defense.
“I put in a lot of work to be here, and these guys have had my back for two and a half years now. I love being able to reciprocate that and give back to these guys,” Petrovic added. “It’s a blessing to be out there every Sunday and give it everything I’ve got.”
Auburn scored early with an RBI single from Eric Guevara in the first inning before Fralick’s homer helped push their lead further in the second inning. Nebraska narrowed Auburn’s margin briefly but was unable to close the gap as Lucas Steele contributed another RBI single for Auburn later in the fourth.
In relief pitching appearances following Petrovic were LJ Cormier—making his fourth appearance this season—Drew Whalen with another scoreless outing, and Ethin Bingaman who made his debut by closing out with an uneventful ninth inning.
Auburn (9-2) will continue its nine-game homestand next week with Samford visiting on Tuesday evening.
