Feb. 11, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. -
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Sophomore Paul Burnside pitched four innings of scoreless relief and sophomore Mike Bianucci hit an eighth-inning three-run home run as Auburn completed the sweep of Hofstra with a 10-5 victory on Sunday.
The Tigers earned their second come-from-behind victory in as many days as Bianucci and sophomore Josh Donaldson finished the day with a combined five RBI and four runs scored.
"Up and down the lineup I felt good with every single guy," Auburn Head Coach Tom Slater said. "Everyone put good swings on the ball."
After falling behind 5-2 after three-and-a-half innings, Auburn responded with a three-run bottom of the fourth to knot the game at 5-5. Freshman Ross Smith got the innings started when he was hit by a pitch and later scored on senior Bruce Edwards' RBI single to right-center. Sophomore Luke Greinke then drew a walk and both he and Edwards scored on Donaldson's single to left.
The Tigers took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth as pinch hitter senior Ryan Stanley walked and was replaced at first by senior Philip Stringer, who scored when Donaldson grounded into a bases-loaded double play.
Bianucci capped the scoring with a laser of a home run between the scoreboard and the batter's eye in center that scored both Greinke and Donaldson.
Auburn's bullpen was stellar for the Tigers on Sunday, allowing one run while surrendering just four hits in seven innings of work, issuing a walk while striking out five.
Burnside logged the most innings of any of the relievers in picking up his first win of the season, going 4.0 innings with three strikeouts.
"It felt good to get on the field. You sit there anxiously on the bench all game waiting and hoping the coach will call your name and I was just fortunate to get out there and throw strikes today," Burnside said. "I didn't throw too many off-speed pitches today. I just tried to get ahead and beat their bats."
"When Paul Burnside is healthy he is one of our top pitchers and he showed that today," Slater said.
Drew Luedtke (0-1) took the loss in relief for Hofstra, who fell to 0-3 on the season.
The Tigers return to the diamond on Tuesday at 3 pm CT when they play host to Lipscomb at Plainsman Park.
GAME NOTES
The Tigers scored double-digit runs in three straight game for the first time since the 2003 season ... Donaldson finished the series 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles, three home runs, seven runs scored and 11 RBI ... Junior LHP Josh Blake made his first appearance for the Tigers since April 16, 2005 after missing the end of the '05 season and all of the '06 season due to an arm injury ... Edwards stole his fourth base of the season in the fifth inning and is now 19-for-19 dating to the 2005 season ... Auburn is now 12-0 all-time against Hofstra ... The Tigers also started the 2005 season 3-0 with a sweep of Hofstra en route to a berth in the Tallahassee Regional.