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The team kicked off its 2025 Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League season with a 10-4 win over the Geneva Red Wings at Falcon Park. Here are two key takeaways from the game:

Hometown hurler makes his return

For the second consecutive season, former Auburn Maroon pitcher Owen Birchard was the opening day starter for the D'days. 

During his freshman campaign in relief with Bryant University this year, Birchard posted 29 strikeouts, a 1.72 ERA and a .151 batting average against in 15.2 innings.

While he more than held his own out of the bullpen, Birchard is hoping to use his opportunity with the D'days this summer to help get him back into a starting role with the Bulldogs as a sophomore.

To do that, Birchard told ˮ����AV, one of the keys will be getting his arm up to speed to deal with a heavier workload.

"I just need to keep my command, my pitches as good as they were in my past season at school," he said.

"And the big thing for me is just building a base. I got to build my arm back up. Going two innings, one inning and being a relief guy in big situations, you're not used to that as a starter."

In his four-inning start on Thursday, Birchard was limited with his pitch mix due to some command issues. However, he responded well after being tagged with one earned run in the second and third inning. Following a leadoff walk in the fourth, he struck out the next three batters to exit his start on a high note.

"I didn't have a great feel for my off-speed stuff today, so I was just throwing a lot of fastballs," he said. "In that fourth inning, I got a better feeling for my breaking stuff. You just gotta adjust. You're never always gonna have great stuff. You just gotta put it together sometimes, and I think that's what I did. Can't be perfect every time."

The Bulldog finished his first outing of the season by striking out five batters, walking three and surrendering four hits.   

For D'days first-year head coach Matthew Petrossi, the biggest thing for Birchard will be how he continues to make those changes when needed.

"He's got four pitches, so he's got that already for him," Petrossi told ˮ����AV.

"I think it's just building up and then just navigating the lineup, understanding what you have working for you that day, and being able to make those adjustments in order to stay long into the game. It's being able to continue to mature on the mound, and just knowing you're gonna have to battle through some stuff at times."

Timely hitting 

Auburn plated its 10 runs over two innings, with its situational hitting coming through in a time of need. 

After falling behind by a pair of runs heading into the bottom of the third, the D'days managed to load the bases following a double, a walk and a fielder's choice. With two outs in the third, Le Moyne College junior Adam Sullivan smacked an opposite field three-RBI double to left to give Auburn a one-run lead. 

Sullivan is one of five seniors on the D'days, and Petrossi said his veteran experience showed up at a key moment.

"Being an older guy, his approach and discipline at the plate (have impressed me)," the coach said. "He knows what he's capable of doing and he's not trying to do too much. ... Being able to go back side with runners in scoring position right there, that's big. Good hitters drive in runs, and he's definitely one of them."

The former Marcellus Mustang came through for his team again in the seventh with a pair of outs. He brought his RBI total to five with a two-RBI single that grew the D'days advantage to 8-2. 

Kiernan Kehoe also joined in on the clutch hitting with RBI doubles in the third and seventh inning.

While Austin Droge and Josh Thompson were unable to come away with a hit on Thursday, they showed off their patience at the dish by driving in back-to-back runs off walks. 

"That just comes with having good discipline at the plate," Petrossi said.

"You got to take your walks. We want to hit, but if a pitcher is not giving it to you, you got to get on base so those guys that come up in the top half can do the damage."

The D'days ended with five walks and totaled seven hits to Geneva's five. 

Auburn is back on its home turf on Saturday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup with the Elmira Pioneers.