AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — The Auburn Tigers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning Saturday afternoon to beat the Georgia Bulldogs 14-4 in eight innings at Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park, salvaging the finale of the Southeastern Conference series.

Auburn improved to 36-18 overall and 15-13 in league play. Georgia fell to 43-12 and 17-10.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Leadoff batter Phelps singled to left field, and Jack followed with a two-run homer to center field. After a strikeout and a single, Georgia added a sacrifice fly and another single but left two runners on. The four-run frame gave Georgia starter Jordan Stephens an early cushion.

Auburn chipped away in the second. With one out, Bingaman singled and Guevara walked. Terrell singled to first base, loading the bases, and Bingaman scored on an error by the first baseman. Terrell stole second, and Belyeu’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Guevara. McCraine singled through the left side to drive in Terrell, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

The score remained 4-3 until the fourth. Georgia’s Johnson homered to right field in the top half to make it 4-3, but Auburn answered immediately. Terrell led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer to center field, tying the game at 4-4.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Rembert and a stolen base, Fralick walked. Bingaman grounded out, advancing both runners. Guevara singled through the left side to score Rembert and put Auburn ahead 5-4. Terrell then launched a three-run homer to right field, scoring Guevara and Fralick to make it 8-4. Belyeu added a solo homer to right field later in the inning, and Rembert’s RBI single capped a six-run outburst that extended the lead to 10-4.

Auburn added two more runs in the seventh. McCraine doubled to left center, and Rembert singled to center for two RBIs. Bingaman doubled to left field to score Rembert, pushing the lead to 13-4. In the eighth, McCraine doubled again to drive in an unearned run for the final margin.

Bub Terrell was the standout for Auburn. The left fielder went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs. He also stole a base. Terrell had struggled in the first two games of the series, going 1-for-7 with a home run and one RBI. His fifth-inning blast turned the game in Auburn’s favor.

Shortstop Brandon McCraine was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Second baseman Chris Rembert went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three stolen bases. Center fielder Cade Belyeu homered and drove in two runs. Left fielder Cole Johnson homered for Georgia, while catcher Daniel Jackson went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs before leaving the game after five innings.

Auburn starter Alex Petrovic allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out three. Ryan Hetzler threw two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit. Georgia used five pitchers. Justin Byrd took the loss, allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings.

The win prevented a sweep after Georgia had taken the first two games of the series, 9-7 on Friday and 2-1 on Thursday. The Bulldogs entered the weekend with the SEC’s top record but could not contain Auburn’s 17-hit attack. Georgia managed eight hits.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Georgia 8, Auburn 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Georgia a 53.70 percent probability to win. Auburn was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5.