AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — The Jacksonville State Gamecocks delivered a stunning and decisive performance Tuesday night, dismantling the Auburn Tigers 15-4 in a nonconference baseball game at Samford Stadium – Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park.

The Gamecocks, ranked among the nation’s top teams, improved to 28-6 with a relentless offensive display, amassing 17 hits. Auburn, which entered the game with a 22-10 record and was a heavy favorite according to predictive metrics, saw its pitching staff overwhelmed from the outset.

Jacksonville State seized control immediately, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning against Auburn starter Chatterton. J. Pate led off with a bunt single and advanced on an error. After a bunt single by C. Johnson, Cooper Blauser drove in the first run with a sacrifice groundout. Designated hitter Brady Thomas then launched a two-run homer to right field, establishing a tone the Tigers could not answer.

The Gamecocks added a run in the third on a Blauser sacrifice fly and broke the game open in the fifth. Following a two-out error, catcher Grayson Ashe hammered a two-run homer to left field, pushing the lead to 7-0.

The most decisive sequence came in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Blauser cleared them with a three-run double to left-center field off reliever Brewer G., extending the Jacksonville State advantage to 10-0. Blauser finished with five RBIs.

Auburn’s only sustained offense came in the bottom of the sixth, scoring all four of its runs. Greg L. delivered an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly from McCraine B., another sacrifice fly from McCraine M., and an RBI double from Carter B. That prompted Jacksonville State to bring in reliever Chase Horst, who ended the threat.

The Gamecocks responded immediately, plating two unearned runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to remove any doubt. Thomas added an RBI single in the eighth, finishing 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Ashe, named the top star, was 3 for 4 with a walk, a home run and three RBIs, continuing a hot stretch at the plate.

While the offense dominated, Jacksonville State’s bullpen was flawless. After starter R. Ty exited in the third, five relievers combined for 6 2/3 hitless innings. Josh Sibley, Jud Files, Ryan Geraghty, Chase Horst and M. McDougall — who allowed the four Auburn runs in the sixth before Horst entered — collectively shut the door. Geraghty struck out six over two perfect innings, while Horst, Files and Sibley also posted zeros.

For Auburn, which managed nine hits, relievers Ryan Hetzler, LJ Cormier and Abe Chancellor provided scoreless outings but the early deficit was insurmountable. The Tigers used eight pitchers in the game.

The victory marked a significant statement for Jacksonville State, which was projected to lose by Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Auburn a 73.5% probability to win. The Gamecocks instead far exceeded the simulator’s projection of an 8-3 win.

Jacksonville State travels to face Liberty for a weekend series starting Friday. Auburn prepares to host Kentucky in a Southeastern Conference series, also beginning Friday.