March 10, 2009
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Ben Jones two-out, RBI double to left scored Trent Mummey from second to send Auburn to a 8-7, comeback win over Alabama on Tuesday night at Riverwalk Stadium in the inaugural Max Capital City Classic. Jones finished the game 3-for-5 and was named the MVP of the Classic as Auburn claimed its eighth straight win this season.
"Some guys really stepped up for us. Ben Jones had a huge game and came up with a huge hit, as did Trent Mummey," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "It's great to see a senior step up. Ben has waited for his opportunity to play everyday and he certainly has taken advantage of it. He has had some huge at bats for us, none other than this big one here tonight."
With Auburn down 7-6 after Alabama's four-run eighth off of the Auburn bullpen, shortstop Casey McElroy laced a triple to center for his first hit of the game. A sacrifice fly to left by Justin Hargett tied the game up at 7-7 before Trent Mummey doubled down the right field line to put a runner in scoring position with one down. After Alabama closer Jimmy Nelson fanned Joseph Sanders, Jones ripped his shot to left to put Auburn up a run going to the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage for freshman reliever Zach Blatt, who had made just two appearances prior to Tuesday night's game.
"I was just trying to stay back. I was out in front all night and I got a good pitch to hit and fortunately, I was able to square it up," Jones said of his ninth-inning at bat. "To come back like that, late in the game with this kind of atmosphere is great. To know we can always come back when we are down is a good feeling."
Blatt (1-0), who had entered in the eighth with a runner on, none out and four runs already across the board in the frame, sat down all six hitters he faced, stranding Tyler Odle at third in the eighth and then putting the heart of the Alabama down 1-2-3 in the ninth to pick up his first career win.
"Zack Blatt came out of the bullpen, faced six guys and did a tremendous job and we really needed that. I thought it was a great game from both sides," Pawlowski said.
"I went out there and did what I could and went after them," Blatt said. "The first inning I was nervous but after we got the lead back the nerves went away. I was pumped up and my heart was racing but I knew with the defense behind me, after I got the lead I couldn't let them down."
Alabama (8-4) closer Jimmy Nelson (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing a pair of earned runs in the ninth, the first time this season he has allowed any runs in eight appearances.
Auburn (10-4) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on Brian Fletcher's bases-loaded double off the top of the padding in left-center, just above the 395 marking on the wall. Mummey and Sanders had drawn back-to-back walks off of Alabama starter David Head, who needed 38 pitches to get out of the inning, to start the Auburn offense. A Jones single to right loaded the bases, setting the stage for Fletcher's 10th RBI in his last five games.
Mummey's solo home run with two outs in the second extended Auburn's lead to 4-0 off of Head. The homer was the seventh of the season for the leadoff hitter, tying him with Sanders for the team lead, and was the 30th of the season for the Tigers, second-best in the nation. It also extended Mummey's hitting streak to a team- and personal-best 13 games.
Alabama's Kent Matthes, the national leader in home runs coming into the game, added to his total with a three run job to center off of Auburn starter Paul Burnside in the third to give him 10 on the season. All three runs in the inning were unearned as Alex Kubel had reached on an error to lead off the inning and Josh Rutledge was hit by a pitch before Burnside was able to fan Brandon May and get Clay Jones to fly out to left.
Auburn extended its lead back out to three in the top of the fourth on a passed ball and a suicide squeeze to take a 6-3 lead. Kevin Patterson led off the inning with a walk, knocking Head from the game after three-plus innings. Austin Graham then allowed a single to the first hitter he faced in Tony Caldwell, putting runners on first and second. A balk by Graham moved the runners up a base and then a passed ball on Alabama catcher Kyle Moore allowed Patterson to score and Caldwell to get to third. Justin Hargett then laid down a perfect bunt with Caldwell racing to the plate from third for the RBI and the three-run lead.
Burnside was able to work into the fifth before leaving with runners on first and second and one down, leaving Michael Hurst to clean up for him. Hurst was able to get Ross Wilson to fly out to center before hitting Vin DiFazio to load the bases. With no where to put Taylor Dugas and two out, Hurst coaxed a soft liner to short out of Dugas, ending the Alabama threat.
Two more scoreless innings out of Hurst followed before he allowed a single to Ross Wilson and a RBI double to Vin DiFazio to lead off the eighth. Taylor Thompson was then summoned from the bullpen and promptly allowed a double to Dugas and a Jake Smith home run to center before he walked Odle, bringing Blatt into the game.
Mummey finished the game with three runs scored, bringing his season total to a national-best of 29.
Auburn is on its first eight-game winning streak since Feb. 16-27, 2007, picked up its first win over Alabama on a neutral site for the first time since winning 10-8 in Huntsville in 1995.
The comeback win was the third straight for Auburn.
The game drew 7,518 fans, the second largest crowd in Riverwalk Stadium history.
Auburn returns home for its game with Western Kentucky on Wednesday night at 6pm CT. Wednesday night is Youth Night and kids 17-and-under get in free with a cap and glove.
Auburn 8, Alabama 7 (Mar 10, 2009 at Montgomery, Ala.)
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Auburn.............. 310 200 002 - 8 9 1 (10-4)
Alabama............. 003 000 040 - 7 8 1 (8-4)
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Win-Zach Blatt(1-0) Loss-Jimmy Nelson(1-1) T-3:03 A-7489
HR AU - Trent Mummey (7).
HR UA - Kent Matthes (10); Jake Smith.
