Auburn clinches first trip to College World Series since 1997
After they were shut out by North Carolina on Sunday, nobody could have predicted the offensive explosion from the Auburn Tigers in the top of the first inning of Monday’s do-or-die super-regional final.
The Tigers scored 13 runs in the top of the first, taking what would prove to be an insurmountable lead before the Tar Heels even came to the plate for the first time. Now, after holding on for a 14-7 win, the Tigers are heading to the College World Series in Omaha for the first time since 1997.
Here’s a two-run base hit from Edouard Julien after North Carolina walked in a run to start the scoring:
Edouard Julien's bat is still hot! @AuburnBaseball brings home two! #RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/cVJJD24b8q
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 10, 2019
And here’s Judd Ward’s first hit of the super-regional round — a three-run blast:
His first hit of a Super Regional… A HOME RUN!
Judd Ward keeps it rollin' for @AuburnBaseball#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/qFHFfZL9rj
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 10, 2019
That would prove to be the decisive hit in the game, as UNC only managed seven runs in the game. A nice play by Steven Williams in right field ended a UNC threat in the bottom of the eighth:
Whatever it takes to get to Omaha…right, @AuburnBaseball?#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/Rp0QKvBD5v
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 10, 2019
Now, it’s off to Omaha for the Tigers, where they’ll be one of four SEC teams still alive with a chance at a national championship. Bracket details should be reported shortly.