Auburn Freshmen Shine in 6-2 Victory Over North Alabama**
AUBURN, Ala. – A group of Auburn freshmen played a crucial role in the No. 25 Tigers’ 6-2 victory over North Alabama on Wednesday night at Plainsman Park. Freshman pitcher Andreas Alvarez made history on the mound, while three first-year hitters made an impact at the plate.
Freshmen Making Their Mark
Head coach Butch Thompson emphasized the importance of Auburn’s young talent, praising their contributions to the team’s success.
“I’m just excited that they help us win,” Thompson said. “They are great options, and we have a crew of them. They had a huge part in the game today.”
Alvarez Delivers Record-Breaking Debut
Alvarez, making his first collegiate start, faced early adversity but responded impressively. After surrendering a two-run homer just four pitches into the game, the freshman from Largo, Florida, quickly regained control. He struck out eight of the next 11 batters he faced, finishing with nine total strikeouts—the most by an Auburn freshman pitcher since Keegan Thompson in 2014.
Despite the rocky start, Alvarez remained composed.
“Giving up the home run didn’t feel good, but I was raised to be able to punch back, and I feel like that was my mindset right there,” Alvarez said. “I got punched, but I’m going to punch back harder.”
His strong performance helped set the tone for the Tigers’ comeback.
#### **Auburn Bats Come Alive**
North Alabama took an early 2-0 lead, but Auburn responded with a run in the bottom of the first. Ike Irish and Cooper McMurray both worked walks, setting up Deric Fabian, who delivered an RBI single through the right side to cut the deficit in half.
The Tigers’ offense continued to battle, with freshman Chris Rembert stepping up in the fifth inning. He crushed the second pitch he saw off the batter’s eye in center field, tying the game at 2-2.
“It was awesome,” Rembert said of his first career home run. “Going up to bat I wanted to be as aggressive as possible. I got a fastball right down the middle, and I didn’t miss it. It was awesome that my first college hit was a home run.”
One inning later, fellow freshman Bub Terrell gave Auburn the lead for good, smacking an RBI double off the left-center field wall.
Pitching Dominates After Early Hiccup
After Alvarez’s early struggles, Auburn’s pitching staff locked down North Alabama’s offense. Following Alvarez’s strong five-inning start, Griffin Graves entered in the sixth and retired every batter he faced. Catcher Chase Fralick, also a freshman, helped out defensively by throwing out a baserunner.
Senior Parker Carlson took over in the seventh inning and was nearly untouchable, retiring all nine batters he faced. He struck out a career-high five batters and needed just 27 pitches to finish the game, earning his third career save.
Auburn extended its lead with three more runs in the eighth inning. Eric Snow drove in a run with a single to center, followed by additional RBIs from Terrell and Rembert.
*Looking Ahead
With the win, Auburn improves to 4-1 on the season. The Tigers now turn their attention to a weekend home series against Wright State, which enters the matchup undefeated at 2-0. Auburn will look to continue its early-season success and build on the strong performances from its freshmen.
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