April 11, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - No. 22 Florida collected 24 runs on 20 hits to down Auburn, 24-2, on Saturday afternoon at Plainsman Park. The loss evened the series at a game apiece following Auburn's 8-7, 11-inning victory in the first game of the series, which was completed on Saturday afternoon prior to game two.
"We have to keep it all in perspective," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "It was a 3-2 game after five innings before the wheels came off. We have a chance to win the series tomorrow. A loss is a loss but our guys have to put it behind them. Our senior leadership has to step up and say what's done is done and we have to get ready to play tomorrow."
Jon Luke Jacobs (3-2) took the loss for Auburn, which dropped to 23-11, 7-7 SEC, allowing the first five of Florida's runs in five-plus innings of work.
Stephen Locke (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, throwing eight innings and allowing just the two runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out three. Florida now stands at 22-12, 8-6 SEC.
Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the third on Joseph Sanders' RBI single, which upped his season total to 48 RBI in 34 games, which is just four shy of his career high of 52 in 2008.
Florida answered with two in the fourth on the first of two Josh Adams home runs on the day as Florida answered Auburn's five homers from the first game with four of its own in the second game.
Florida went up 3-1 in the fifth on Avery Barnes' RBI single to left that scored Mike Mooney before Auburn answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame as Ben Jones singled home Hunter Morris from second to make it 3-2 before Florida took control with a seven-run sixth, sending 10 men to the plate to make it 10-2.
Florida was not done yet as it put up nine runs on five hits, three errors and a hit batter in the seventh off of a pair of Auburn pitchers and capped the scoring with a five-run ninth, highlighted by a Jonathan Pigott grand slam.
Hunter Morris extended his hitting streak to nine games, one off of his career high, with his fifth-inning single while Justin Hargett's third-inning single extended his hitting streak to eight games, also one shy of matching his career high.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series at 1pm CT on Sunday. Auburn will send Jr. RHP Taylor Thompson (2-1, 7.79) to the hill while Florida is undecided on its starter.
Florida 24, Auburn 2 (Apr 11, 2009 at Auburn, AL)
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Florida............. 000 217 905 - 24 20 1 (22-12, 8-6 SEC)
Auburn.............. 001 010 000 - 2 10 3 (23-11, 7-7 SEC)
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Win-Stephen Locke(1-0) Loss-Jon Luke Jacobs(3-2) T-2:52 A-2531
HR UF - Jonathan Pigott (1); Josh Adams 2 (4); Teddy Foster (1).
Weather: 70; Fair; Wind WNW 13 MPH
