No. 5 Auburn Tigers Comeback for Big Win vs. No. 9 FSU

Auburn scores seven unanswered runs to defeat Florida State in Arlington, Texas

Feb. 22, 2026 at 2:54am

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The No. 5 Auburn Tigers overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat the No. 9 Florida State Seminoles 8-5 in a comeback win at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Auburn's starting pitcher Jackson Sanders settled down after a rough first inning, and the Tigers' offense rallied with seven unanswered runs to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win marks Auburn's second victory against a top-10 team in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in the last two years, showcasing the Tigers' ability to compete at the highest level of college baseball. The comeback also demonstrates the team's resilience and competitive spirit.

The details

After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, Auburn's offense rattled off seven unanswered runs from the second through the seventh innings to mount the comeback. Bristol Carter and Brandon McCraine led the way with three hits each, as the Tigers tallied 11 hits for the second straight day. A two-out, two-RBI triple from Chase Fralick in the fifth inning gave Auburn the lead, and the Tigers' bullpen held Florida State in check the rest of the way.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Auburn scored four runs in the first inning to take an early 4-0 lead.

The players

Butch Thompson

The head coach of the Auburn Tigers baseball team.

Jackson Sanders

The Auburn starting pitcher who allowed four runs in the first inning but then settled down and retired the last 10 batters he faced, earning the win with a career-high nine strikeouts.

Bristol Carter

The Auburn outfielder who went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Brandon McCraine

The Auburn infielder who also had three hits and scored a run in the game.

Chase Fralick

The Auburn player who hit a two-out, two-RBI triple in the fifth inning to give the Tigers the lead.

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What they’re saying

“That looked a little bit more like us, right? I loved what Jackson Sanders did. Let me start there. They came out looking for the fastball, and they banged it. It didn't go to a glove. He didn't do anything but get better. I like the competitive spirit for him to continue to go and get five innings after giving up four in the first.”

— Butch Thompson, Head Coach

“Our pitchers did a great job tonight. Jackson Sanders, he handled it really well. Got hit around a little in the first, but came back out for the second and from then on was lights out. He held them there and gave us a great chance.”

— Brandon McCraine

“Fill it up. No room for walks or anything like that. Get in and get out. I feel like going into this year for me, setting the goal of 62 or 63 percent strikes and just giving our team a chance to win.”

— Jett Johnston, Junior Pitcher

What’s next

Auburn will wrap up the weekend in Arlington by squaring off against No. 15 Louisville (3-3) on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT.

The takeaway

This comeback win against a top-10 opponent showcases the Auburn Tigers' resilience, competitive spirit, and ability to rally from an early deficit. The team's strong pitching performance and timely hitting demonstrate their potential to be a force in college baseball this season.