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How Auburn Baseball Completed a Historic Sweep Over No. 3 LSU
In a weekend that will be remembered for years to come on The Plains, Auburn baseball pulled off one of the most stunning accomplishments in the program’s recent history—sweeping the No. 3-ranked LSU Tigers in a three-game series at Plainsman Park. The Tigers’ gritty pitching, timely hitting, and unrelenting energy fueled the program’s first sweep of LSU since 1997, shocking the college baseball world and shaking up the SEC standings in dramatic fashion.
Setting the Stage: Underdogs With a Point to Prove
Heading into the weekend, Auburn was largely considered a team on the bubble—dangerously hovering around .500 in SEC play, battling injuries, and looking for consistency at the plate and on the mound. LSU, on the other hand, was riding high. Ranked No. 3 nationally, the Tigers were among the favorites to reach Omaha and boasted one of the deepest and most dangerous lineups in the nation, led by All-Americans and future MLB draftees.
Nobody outside of the Auburn clubhouse gave the Tigers from Alabama much of a shot. But Bruce Pearl once said something about Auburn that fits across all sports: “Don’t count us out when we’re doubted.”
Game 1: The Statement
Friday night’s opener was expected to be a mismatch on paper. LSU’s ace, projected first-rounder Mason Klein, came into the game with a sub-2.00 ERA and a fastball that touched 97 mph. Auburn countered with senior lefty Hunter Chandler, a player who had battled command issues all season but was given the nod due to experience.
Chandler delivered the performance of his life, going seven strong innings and striking out nine LSU batters while scattering just five hits. The crowd fed off his energy, erupting with every big out. Auburn’s bats gave him early support with a four-run second inning that included a two-RBI double from freshman breakout star Myles Langston.
Auburn held on for a 5-3 victory, handing LSU just its fifth loss of the season. The dugout celebration after the final out wasn’t just relief—it was belief. Auburn had set the tone, and Plainsman Park felt the shift.
Game 2: The Wild One
If Game 1 was about execution, Game 2 was about heart.
Saturday’s contest turned into an instant classic—a back-and-forth battle that tested every ounce of Auburn’s resolve. LSU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, flexing their power with a pair of solo home runs. But Auburn refused to flinch.
Senior second baseman Cole Foster provided the spark in the fourth inning with a clutch three-run homer to tie the game. A two-RBI double by Ike Irish in the sixth gave Auburn its first lead, only for LSU to tie it again in the eighth with a bloop single and a fielding error.
Then came the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and the winning run on third, junior outfielder Chris Stanfield stepped to the plate. Known more for his glove than his bat, Stanfield poked a soft liner into shallow center, just out of the reach of LSU’s diving shortstop. The ball dropped. The crowd erupted. Auburn walked it off, 7-6.
Stanfield’s teammates mobbed him between first and second base, and fans stormed the edge of the field in disbelief. Auburn had clinched the series. The sweep was suddenly within reach.
Game 3: History Made
With LSU reeling and Auburn surging, Sunday’s game had the air of a coronation. But anyone who’s followed SEC baseball knows that sweeps are hard to come by—especially against a top-three team with pride on the line.
Enter sophomore right-hander Will Cannon. Making just his third start of the season, Cannon turned in a heroic effort, pitching into the sixth and keeping LSU’s vaunted offense in check. His slider was electric, generating swings and misses from hitters who hadn’t looked uncomfortable all season.
Offensively, Auburn jumped on LSU early. Langston and Foster stayed hot, and catcher Nate LaRue blasted a two-run homer in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-2.
From there, Auburn’s bullpen took over. Led by closer John Armstrong, who pitched a perfect ninth to record his sixth save of the year, Auburn finished off a 6-3 win and completed the historic sweep. The final out set off pandemonium in Plainsman Park—hats flew, gloves soared, and the Tigers celebrated like champions.
Key Performers of the Weekend
- Hunter Chandler (Game 1 Starter): 7 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, 5 H — the defining start of his Auburn career.
- Cole Foster (2B): 6-for-12, 1 HR, 5 RBI — the series MVP, delivering clutch hits in big moments.
- Myles Langston (LF): 5-for-11, 3 2B, 4 RBI — the freshman stepped up on the biggest stage.
- John Armstrong (Closer): 2 saves, 4 IP, 0 ER — ice in his veins in late-inning pressure.
A Program-Changing Moment
The sweep wasn’t just three wins. It was a cultural statement. It showed that head coach Butch Thompson’s team could go toe-to-toe with college baseball’s elite—and win. It validated the talent Auburn has developed and recruited. More than anything, it reminded fans, players, and recruits that Auburn is building something special.
“This team never quits,” Thompson said after the finale. “They believe in each other, and they’re starting to believe in what we can accomplish. This weekend was special, but we’re not done yet.”
Implications for the SEC and NCAA Tournament
The sweep catapulted Auburn from the middle of the SEC West pack into serious postseason contention. The Tigers are now squarely in the conversation for an NCAA Regional host site, and they’ll have the chance to build on this momentum in the final stretch of SEC play.
For LSU, the losses sting but serve as a reminder that no team is invincible in the SEC. The Tigers will likely rebound, but the sweep drops them in the rankings and complicates their path to a top-eight national seed.
More broadly, the result shakes up the SEC hierarchy. Teams that had previously circled Auburn as a “winnable” series are now on high alert. The Tigers are no longer under the radar—they’re a legitimate force.
The Fans Showed Out
Plainsman Park was rocking all weekend. Attendance broke records, energy surged through every inning, and the Auburn faithful made their presence felt. The student section was electric, waving signs and taunting LSU players with classic Southern charm and ferocity.
“It felt like Omaha out there,” said Auburn first baseman Ike Irish. “You could feel it from the first pitch—this was different. This was special.”
What’s Next?
With the LSU series now in the rearview mirror, Auburn will look to avoid the classic trap of a letdown series. The Tigers hit the road next weekend for a critical SEC showdown with Mississippi State, followed by a midweek matchup against in-state rival UAB.
Coach Thompson will be preaching consistency and focus. If Auburn can replicate even half of what it did against LSU, it’ll be a tough out for anyone come June.
Final Thoughts
Auburn’s sweep over No. 3 LSU was more than just a baseball series—it was a defining moment for a program ready to take the next step. It reminded fans why college baseball is so unpredictable, so thrilling, and so deeply rooted in school pride.
It was a sweep built on belief, grit, and clutch performances. And it may just be the turning point in Auburn’s 2025 season.
As Coach Thompson put it best: “This isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the beginning of a new chapter for Auburn baseball.”
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