No. 6 Auburn Tigers Edge Jacksonville State 4-3 with Late Home Run

Auburn secured a 4-3 victory over Jacksonville State thanks to a dramatic pinch-hit home run by Lucas Steele with two outs in the ninth inning. The Tigers' freshman pitcher Christian Chatterton delivered a standout performance, retiring the first 18 batters and striking out eight across six-plus innings while allowing just one hit. Auburn built an early 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Jacksonville State rallied to tie the game late, including a solo home run in the eighth. Ben Schorr came in as relief, recording four strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings to secure the win for Auburn. The Tigers' pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts and allowed only two hits, showing resilience and adaptability as they managed their bullpen ahead of an upcoming series. Head coach Butch Thompson credited his team's confidence, resilience, and strong pitching for the close win.