In a dramatic midweek matchup that tested grit, depth, and determination, Auburn walked away with a thrilling extra-inning win over South Alabama on Tuesday night, thanks in large part to the timely heroics of freshman infielder Diego Peralta. The Tigers, playing on the road in Mobile, Alabama, were pushed to the brink by a Jaguars team hungry for a statement win, but ultimately prevailed 7-6 in the eleventh inning after Peralta drove in the go-ahead run with a clutch single to right.
The win was not only a morale booster for a young Auburn team still finding its identity in the heart of the season but also a testament to the never-say-die attitude head coach Butch Thompson has preached all year long. After losing an early lead and navigating through a roller-coaster of pitching changes and situational at-bats, the Tigers leaned on a combination of fresh faces and veteran poise to outlast a feisty South Alabama squad that refused to go quietly.
Auburn jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, thanks in part to a series of well-placed singles and aggressive baserunning. Sophomore catcher Ike Irish got the rally started with a sharply hit liner up the middle, followed by a double from Bobby Peirce that put two men in scoring position. An RBI groundout by Cooper Weiss plated the game’s first run, before Caden Green dropped a bloop single into shallow left to score Peirce. Peralta, inserted into the lineup for his defensive prowess, added a sacrifice fly that gave Auburn an early cushion.
However, South Alabama responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Auburn starter Mason Green, making his second midweek start of the season, ran into trouble after walking the leadoff batter and surrendering a pair of hard-hit balls that cut the lead to 3-2. The Jaguars tied the game in the third on a solo homer by Jake Milano, who jumped on a hanging breaking ball and sent it deep into the left-field bleachers.
From there, the game settled into a tense stalemate as both teams cycled through their bullpens. Auburn’s middle relievers—most notably left-hander John Armstrong and freshman righty Zach Crotchfelt—helped stabilize things during the middle innings, combining for four scoreless frames. South Alabama’s bullpen was just as effective, keeping Auburn off the board despite several threats with runners in scoring position.
In the seventh inning, Auburn finally broke the deadlock. With two outs and a runner on first, senior outfielder Kason Howell roped a double off the wall in left-center, scoring Caden Green and giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead. The bench erupted, sensing momentum had finally shifted in their favor, but the Jaguars once again had an answer.
South Alabama scraped together a run in the eighth on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, tying the game at four. In the ninth, Auburn briefly reclaimed the lead when Irish hammered a two-out double to deep center, bringing home pinch-runner Brody Wortham. But just three pitches into the bottom of the ninth, the Jaguars tied it up again with a solo shot from left fielder Bryce Eblin, who turned on a fastball from Will Cannon and sent it just over the fence.
Tied at 5-5, the game headed to extras. The tension inside Stanky Field was palpable, with fans from both sides rising to their feet for nearly every pitch. Auburn squandered a golden opportunity in the tenth when they loaded the bases with one out but failed to score after a strikeout and a pop fly ended the inning.
Then came the eleventh, and with it, the decisive moment of the game. With two outs and Green on second after a leadoff single and a stolen base, Peralta stepped into the batter’s box with a calm demeanor that belied his youth. Facing a 2-1 count, he got a fastball over the plate and didn’t miss. His clean, opposite-field stroke sent the ball sailing over the second baseman’s head and into right field. Green rounded third and slid home ahead of the throw, giving Auburn a 6-5 lead.
The Tigers added a valuable insurance run moments later when Howell lined a single that scored Peralta, who had moved up on a passed ball. That made it 7-5, and though the Jaguars scratched across one more run in the bottom half, Auburn closer Parker Carlson slammed the door shut with a strikeout and a groundout to seal the win.
Peralta finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the game-winner, in what will surely go down as his breakout performance in an Auburn uniform. After the game, Thompson praised the freshman’s composure in a high-pressure situation, saying, “That’s a young man who’s going to be a big part of this program for years to come. He stayed within himself and delivered when we needed it most.”
For Auburn, the win improves their record to 23-14 on the season and serves as a confidence booster heading into a critical SEC weekend series. While the pitching staff showed some signs of fatigue, particularly late in the game, the ability of younger arms like Crotchfelt and Armstrong to keep the game close was an encouraging sign for a team that’s dealt with injuries and inconsistencies throughout the year.
Offensively, Irish continues to be the engine of the Tigers’ lineup, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a walk. Howell, another bright spot, tallied three RBIs and made several heads-up plays in the outfield. But it was Peralta’s performance that stole the show—a reminder that, in baseball, stars can emerge at the most unexpected times.
South Alabama, meanwhile, dropped to 19-17 despite a gutsy performance that featured clutch hitting, timely bullpen work, and no shortage of fight. The Jaguars outhit Auburn 12-10 and had opportunities to win the game in both the ninth and tenth innings but came up just short. Milano and Eblin each went deep, and right-hander Eli Longoria threw three solid innings in relief, but the Jaguars couldn’t quite complete the upset.
The win keeps Auburn in the hunt for a top-four seed in the SEC Tournament, where every midweek victory can make a difference in seeding and confidence. Tuesday’s extra-inning battle served as a reminder of just how deep and unpredictable college baseball can be—where a freshman like Peralta can step into the spotlight and change the trajectory of a game, and perhaps, a season.
Now, the Tigers will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming home stand, where they’ll face a ranked opponent in what promises to be another tough test. But with players like Peralta emerging and veterans like Irish and Howell steadying the ship, Auburn suddenly looks like a team capable of rising to the occasion.
As the team boarded the bus home from Mobile, the postgame mood was celebratory but measured. Players exchanged high-fives and laughs, but they know bigger challenges lie ahead. Still, on a humid Tuesday night along the Gulf Coast, Diego Peralta gave the Auburn faithful something to smile about—and maybe, just maybe, a glimpse of what’s to come.