Auburn
Texas
AUBURN, Ala. (03/20/2026) — The Texas Longhorns built a commanding early lead and weathered a furious late-game rally to secure a 7-6 victory over the Auburn Tigers on Friday night at Plainsman Park. A six-run burst in the first three innings provided just enough cushion for Texas to escape with a signature non-conference road win against a formidable SEC opponent.
Texas wasted no time setting the tone, pushing across two unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Adrian Rodriguez and Pack Jr. both scored on a sharp single to right-center by Monsour, giving the Longhorns a 2-0 advantage they would never relinquish. The offensive pressure continued in the third, as Aiden Robbins launched a solo home run to center field to extend the lead. The inning’s biggest blow came moments later when Jalin Duplantier connected on a three-run homer to left field, scoring Borba and Pack Jr. to abruptly stretch the Texas lead to 6-0.
Auburn began to chip away in the fourth inning. After Ethin Bingaman scored on a groundout by M. McCraine, B. Terrell crossed the plate on a similar RBI groundout from B. McCraine, cutting the deficit to 6-2. The Longhorns answered back in the sixth, manufacturing a critical insurance run when Carson Tinney drove in Monsour with an RBI double down the left-field line, making the score 7-2. That run would prove to be the difference.
The Tigers' offense came alive in the final third of the game, mounting a comeback that brought the home crowd to its feet. The rally started in the seventh inning when Chris Rembert hit a solo home run to left field. Later in the frame, B. Terrell delivered an RBI single, followed immediately by an RBI single from E. Guevara, suddenly trimming the Texas lead to 7-5. The momentum carried into the eighth inning, where Chase Fralick singled to left to drive in a run, pulling Auburn to within one at 7-6. Despite having the tying run on base, the Tigers could not complete the comeback, as the Texas bullpen held firm to close out the narrow victory.
Turning Point
The decisive moment of the game occurred in the top of the third inning. With Texas already leading 3-0 after Aiden Robbins' solo shot, Jalin Duplantier stepped to the plate with two runners on. His three-run home run was a game-altering swing, providing Texas with a 6-0 lead. This offensive explosion gave the Longhorns a substantial buffer that, while tested, ultimately held up against Auburn’s persistent late-inning charges. Without that four-run frame, the outcome would have been vastly different.
Star of the Game
While several Longhorns contributed, third-inning hero Jalin Duplantier earns the nod as the star of the game. His three-run homer was the single most impactful offensive play, providing the bulk of the winning margin. Aiden Robbins also delivered a key solo home run, while Monsour’s early two-RBI single set the initial pace. For Auburn, Chris Rembert and Chase Fralick were instrumental in the comeback effort, providing timely hits and runs in the later innings to make it a one-run contest.
What It Means
For the Texas Longhorns, this is a massive non-conference win on the road against a quality SEC team. Defeating the Auburn Tigers at Plainsman Park adds a significant achievement to their resume and demonstrates their ability to win tough games in hostile environments. It’s a confidence-builder as they navigate a challenging schedule.
For the Auburn Tigers, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, but their performance in the final three innings is a major positive. The resilience and offensive firepower displayed during the comeback attempt show that the Tigers are never out of a game. Moving forward, the focus for Auburn will be on cleaner starts to avoid falling into large, early deficits that force them to play from behind against top-tier competition.