March 27, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - For the first four-and-a-half innings Friday night, Auburn and Vanderbilt squared off in a classic Friday-night Southeastern Conference pitching duel but by the time the night was over, Vanderbilt was able to walk away with a 12-3 win at Plainsman Park.
"All losses are disappointing, obviously. You put the uniform on and you want to have an opportunity to play and win, but when you lose and you lose in the fashion we lost, it's very disappointing for the way we lost," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "We jumped out there and had a three-run lead but then we made some mistakes and gave it right back. We gave up 22 hits and we only had five hits. We have to make some adjustments offensively too."
Grant Dayton (2-3) suffered a second consecutive loss for the first time in his career as he allowed four runs on 10 hits in six innings, striking out four before giving way to the bullpen, which was tagged for eight runs on 12 hits in three innings.
Vanderbilt's Mike Minor (2-2) lived up to the billing as the Vanderbilt ace as he fanned 11 in seven innings, allowing three fifth-inning runs, while scattering five hits and two walks.
Vanderbilt (17-8, 3-4 SEC) pounded out 22 hits on the night, 20 of which were singles and 17 of which came from the sixth-inning on, which is also when it scored all 12 of its runs for the night.
With the two Friday-night aces combining to hold the opposing hitters to just seven total hits through four-and-a-half innings, Auburn (16-9, 2-5 SEC) was able to strike for three runs in the bottom of the fifth on two hits and two walks and a Vanderbilt error. Casey McElroy and Tony Caldwell drew back-to-back one-out walks before a Wes Gilmer single to right loaded the bases. A RBI single by Justin Hargett put Auburn ahead, 1-0, and kept the bases loaded for Trent Mummey, who went to first on catcher's interference on Vanderbilt backstop Drew Fann to up the lead to 2-0. Joseph Sanders' sac fly to center scored another and gave Dayton what appeared to be a sizeable lead with the way he had pitched over the first five frames.
The lead was short lived as Vanderbilt answered with four runs in the top of the sixth. Curt Casali drew a one-out walk and went to second on Aaron Westlake's single back up the middle. An Andrew Giobbi single scored Casali from second, who drew a throw on his way home. With one run already in and the throw in Caldwell's hands behind the plate, Westlake and Giobbi found themselves both heading toward second, drawing a return throw from Caldwell that went into center, allowing both runners to race home to tie the game at 3-3.
The scoring was not over in the inning as Joe Loftus singled to right, went to third on Jason Esposito's single to right and came home on Fann's bunt single back to the mound with the runners going to put Vanderbilt up, 4-3, essentially knocking Dayton out of the game.
Rus Harper relieved Dayton and allowed a home run to the first man he faced in Steven Liddle and a single to Casali before giving way to Zach Blatt, who surrendered a single to Westlake before getting Giobbi to fly out to center, allowing Casali to advance to third. With runners on first and second, Vanderbilt put the delayed steal on, coaxing Caldwell into a throw to second, allowing Casali to steal home to go up, 6-3. Esposito's single left scored Westlake to make it 7-3.
Blatt continued on into the eight and allowed another three runs on a walk and three singles before being lifted in favor of Chris O'Neil, who threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Auburn will attempt to even the series at a game each at 3pm CT on Saturday when it sends R-Fr. RHP Jon Luke Jacobs 2-0, 4.97 ERA) to the mound against Vanderbilt So. RHP Caleb Cotham (3-2, 3.90).
Vanderbilt 12, Auburn 3 (Mar 27, 2009 at Auburn, Ala.)
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Vanderbilt.......... 000 004 332 - 12 22 1 (17-8, 3-4 SEC)
Auburn.............. 000 030 000 - 3 5 1 (16-9, 2-5 SEC)
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Win-Mike Minor(2-2) Loss-Grant Dayton(2-3) T-3:13 A-1949
HR VU - Steven Liddle (3).
Weather: 64 degrees; Mostly Cloudy
