April 16, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn allowed its opponent to post double-digit runs for the fourth straight Friday night as the No. 23 Tigers fell, 11-6, at No. 18 Vanderbilt. The loss drops Auburn to 23-12, 7-6 SEC.
Vanderbilt (28-8, 7-6 SEC) jumped all over Auburn starter Cole Nelson (4-3) for seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings while Sonny Gray (5-4) allowed just three Auburn runs in 6 1/3 innings to put Auburn in a one-game series hole for the fourth straight week.
"It's tough to get behind on Friday nights and we put ourselves in a tough spot today," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "You want to get out of the gates good and you want to have a competitive game; the competitiveness in the beginning of the game didn't go in our favor. (Vanderbilt) put some good swings on it and they hit a big grand slam (to go up early)."
Connor Harrell was 2-for-3 with five RBI for Vanderbilt, hitting a grand slam in the second that put Vanderbilt up, 4-0, giving the Commodores a lead it would never relinquish. He was one of five Vanderbilt hitters to collect two hits on the night.
Justin Fradejas extended his hitting streak to 16 games for Auburn with a third-inning RBI single and finished the night 1-for-5 with a run and a RBI.
Hunter Morris' ninth-inning home run, his 11th of the season, extended his hitting streak to 10 games, matching his career best. Morris was also 1-for-5, driving in two runs with a run scored.
Auburn narrowed the gap to 4-2 in the top of the third on Fradejas' RBI single and an error by Vanderbilt left fielder Bryan Harris only to have Vanderbilt answer with a second consecutive four-run inning in the bottom of the third, knocking Nelson from the game with a 5-0 lead and runners on first and second and one out. Vanderbilt used just three of its 12 hits in the inning but also took advantage of three of the six walks Auburn issued on the night to go up 8-2 at the end of three.
Zach Blatt threw a season-high 3 2/3 innings after coming in for Nelson. He surrendered three runs (one earned) on five hits before giving way to Ty Kelley, who pitched the final two innings. Kelley struck out four while allowing just one hit, a solo home run with two outs in the seventh.
Gray was charged with three runs, only one of which was earned, allowing seven hits and five walks while striking out seven before turning things over to Richie Godenow, who allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four.
Auburn turned a season-high three double plays in the game but also hit into two.
Auburn will try to even the series at 2pm CT on Saturday. Auburn will start either So. LHP Cory Luckie (3-2, 8.39 ERA) or Fr. RHP Slade Smith (1-0, 4.15) while Vanderbilt will start So. RHP Jack Armstrong.
Vanderbilt 11, Auburn 6 (Apr 16, 2010 at Nashville, TN)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Auburn.............. 002 001 003 - 6 10 2 (23-12, 7-6 SEC)
Vanderbilt.......... 044 002 100 - 11 12 2 (28-8, 7-6 SEC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Win-Sonny Gray(5-4) Loss-Cole Nelson(4-3) T-2:56 A-2671
Follow Auburn baseball on twitter at twitter.com/AUTigerBaseball.