KENNESAW, Ga. – On Saturday, November 8, the Auburn Tigers went on the road to play the Kennesaw State Owls for a fall exhibition game at the brand-new Mickey Dunn Stadium.
Here are some observations World Baseball Network made about Auburn during their fall exhibition game against the Owls.
Left-handed pitcher Griffin Graves got the start against Kennesaw State for Auburn. In three innings of work, he gave up no runs as he smoothly worked through the Auburn lineup.
In 2025, Graves had a 4.63 ERA in 23 1/3 innings of work. He was credited with four wins last season, which was tied for the second-most on Auburn’s team a season ago.
Now entering his junior season, Graves will be a big impact pitcher for the Tigers.
The first home run at Mickey Dunn Stadium for Auburn came from UAB transfer Todd Clay. Before the two-run home run he hit, Clay also had a two-run single in the game’s first inning.
At UAB in 2025, Clay had a .361 batting average and a .473 on-base percentage. He also had 13 doubles, seven home runs, and 51 RBI for the Blazers.
He was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Co-Newcomer of the Year alongside UTSA’s Drew Detlefsen Jr. and was also named second-team all-conference.
Returning Auburn player Cade Belyeu also hit a home run for the Tigers.
In 2025, he had a .278 batting average and a .450 on-base percentage. Belyeu also hit five home runs and had 20 RBI in 126 total at-bats.
In 2024, Belyeu was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team.
In May and June last season, some injuries forced him to miss a lot of time as he played in only seven games during that stretch.
Incoming freshman Ethin Bingaman got on the mound for Auburn during their exhibition against Kennesaw State.
He struck out three batters in one inning to close out the first seven-inning game the two teams played.
Later on during the exhibition, the freshman also hit a solo home run.
Bingaman was a top 50 player nationally in the 2025 high school class. He was ranked as a top ten player from the state of California, playing for Corona High School.
He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, but decided to take on a college baseball career playing for Auburn.
NCAA News: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Auburn’s Cade Belyeu (14) runs to first base during an NCAA baseball game against Wright State on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
