Auburn massacred Alabama 20-5 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to complete its weekend sweep of the Crimson Tide (22-20, 5-13 SEC).
The Tigers (29-12, 9-9 SEC) built an 8-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning. Alabama starter Garret Rukes was chased after giving up three runs in the third inning. Reliever Kyle Cameron got one out, then gave up five runs on five consecutive hits before he left the game.
Alabama appeared to rally in the middle of the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-4, but wouldn’t come any closer. Auburn hammered away in the late innings.
Coach Brad Bohannon was ejected in the top of the seventh with Alabama trailing 9-5, his first career ejection as head coach. It wasn’t enough to spark the Crimson Tide. Auburn came back to score 11 more runs in the top of the eighth, including three runs that scored when Alabama pitchers issued a walk with the bases loaded. Alabama used four pitchers in the eighth inning.
This is the first time Auburn has swept Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 1976. Alabama lost 5-2 to Auburn in Montgomery in the Capital City Classic on March 27. Alabama, now 0-4 against Auburn, hasn’t been swept by Auburn in a season since 2001, though there is still the possibility of a matchup in the SEC tournament.
The 20 runs surrendered by Alabama is tied for eighth-most in a game in program history and the most since giving up 21 to Tennessee in a game in 2000. The 15-run margin of defeat is the most in program history to Auburn, surpassing the 14-run loss on Friday night. The 15-run loss is also tied for ninth-most in a game in program history.
Alabama sits in last place in the SEC following the sweep.
