Cole Foster had a three-run double in the sixth to erase a 2-1 deficit as Auburn eliminated Stanford.
The Cardinal scored in each of the first two innings. Brock Jones had a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, stole second and scored on a double by Brett Barrera. Tommy Troy had a one-out double in the second and came home on a double by Adam Crampton (3 for 3) as Stanford went up 2-0.
The Tigers put their leadoff hitters on in the fourth and fifth but failed to score. Auburn took the lead in the sixth. Bobby Peirce drew a bases-loaded walk and Foster cleared the bases with a two-out double as the Tigers took a 4-2 advantage.
“Foster had a big hit for us and has been struggling just health wise to stay on the field and was a big, big hit for us,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said. “But thankful to get a win and look forward to competing again tomorrow.”
Auburn added to its lead in the seventh. Mike Bello had a leadoff walk and pinch-runner Bryson Ware went to third on a double by Blake Rambusch (2 for 5, 2 R). Brody Moore’s sacrifice fly plated Ware and a two-bagger by Peirce brought home Rambusch as Auburn led 6-2.
Stanford loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Blake Burkhalter came in from the bullpen and recorded a strikeout to halt the rally.
Trace Bright (5-4, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 8 K) was the starter and winner, while Burkhalter worked the final 2.1 innings with one hit, no runs, no walks and five strikeouts to record his 16th save.
“A great ballgame by Auburn,” Stanford head coach David Esquer said. “We didn’t play the game like we typically could. You need to be relentless offensively. Scoring two in the first two innings and we weren’t going to hold that game to a 2-0 win. We bent them a little but they just wouldn’t break or crack. And we weren’t able to get that on our side. I thought they did a good job pitching out of trouble.”
Stanford went 0-2 at the CWS for the first time in 18 appearances.
Auburn will meet the loser of the Arkansas-Ole Miss game in an elimination contest on Tuesday.