Feb. 25, 2008
AUBURN -- The Auburn (4-0) baseball team finished off a four-game sweep of East Tennessee State (0-4) with a 12-2 victory at Plainsman Park Monday. Freshman Hunter Morris hit a two-run homer and the Tigers took advantage of three ETSU errors that led to seven unearned runs.
Sophomore hurler Austin Hubbard (1-0) earned the victory for Auburn after allowing a pair of runs on six hits in five innings of work.
"Saturday, Sunday and today we did a nice job from top to bottom in the lineup (offensively)," said Auburn head coach Tom Slater. "I was really pleased with our bullpen all weekend long. They did a tremendous job."
Auburn plated five unearned runs in the first inning started by a two-out throwing error by third baseman Bart Roark, which plated two Tiger base runners. Following consecutive walks, catcher Tony Caldwell doubled home three runs off the left field wall.
Morris hit his first homer of the season in the second inning with a two-out opposite field shot over the Green Monster in left field, increasing Auburn's lead to 7-2.
The Tigers tacked on four in the fourth inning on three hits and an ETSU throwing error that scored two runners.
Junior Ben Jones hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning with a solo shot to right-center field.
Buccaneer starter Bo Burton (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing 11 runs, seven of which were unearned, on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Michael Hurst, Bradley Hendrix, Evan Crawford and Bryan Woodall each worked a scoreless inning of relief for the Tigers, who held the Buccaneers without a run over the last seven innings.
ETSU's lone runs came in the first and second inning. Roark's sacrifice fly scored Troy Mendez and Danny Petro scored in the second on a fielder's choice.
Outfielders Mike Bianucci and Trent Mummey had three hits apiece to lead Auburn.
Auburn returns to action Thursday when it hosts Florida State for a two-game series. Thursday's game at Plainsman Park starts at 6 p.m. CT, while Friday's first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.