April 9, 2010
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn scored seven runs over the final two innings but it wasn't enough to overcome the 11-run deficit it found itself in after the top of the eighth as Auburn fell to No. 3 LSU, 14-10, on Friday night at Plainsman Park.
LSU scored six first-inning runs on seven hits, six of them singles, as Auburn starter Cole Nelson (4-2) couldn't record an out from any of the eight hitters he faced before being replaced with men on second and third and LSU already up 6-0 with none out in the inning.
"LSU got on a roll. They hit some balls hard and they jumped us early," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "It was obvious it was not going to be Cole's night and so we made the decision to take him out and maybe he will be able to help us tomorrow or Sunday out of the pen."
LSU starter Anthony Ranaudo (1-0) allowed two first inning runs as Auburn crept to within 6-2 in the first before LSU opened up the flood gates on Auburn's Slade Smith and Stephen Kohlscheen, battering the relievers for eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over the next seven innings to build a 14-3 lead.
With the game seemingly out of reach and both teams emptying their benches, Auburn (20-11, 5-5 SEC) scored five eighth-inning runs to make it 14-8. The big blast was Trent Mummey's second career grand slam, turning a Daniel Bradshaw pitch into his second home run in the last three games.
After putting LSU down in order for just the second time in the game in the top of the ninth, Auburn continued to batter the LSU bullpen, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle with only one out in the inning. Ryan Jenkins doubled to lead off the ninth and knock Daniel Bradshaw out of the game after he had allowed five runs in an inning of work, allowing four hits and walking three. Paul Bertuccini came in and threw a wild pitch that allowed Jenkins to score, putting a sixth run on Bradshaw's tally. A Kevin Patterson triple to the wall followed and then he scored on a second wild pitch to make it 14-10. A walk by pinch hitter Caleb Bowen preceded Bertuccini hitting Justin Fradejas, prompting a second move to the bullpen in the inning.
Chris Cotton got the call from LSU Head Coach Paul Mainieri to face the top of the Auburn order and induced to fly balls to end the inning and the game, earning his first save of the season.
"For being down as much as we were I was encouraged by the way we battled back. I know the game was probably out of hand but no one in the dugout quit and that's what we have to have, guys that will keep battling all nine innings," Pawlowski said.
Fradejas finished the game 2-for-4 for Auburn, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, while Brian Fletcher was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a run and a RBI.
Ten different players recorded at least one hit for Auburn, which had 12 hits on the night, making it four straight games in which Auburn has produced double-digit hits.
The two through five hitters in LSU's (26-4, 8-2 SEC) order finished the game a combined 13-for-22 with 11 runs scored and eight runs batted in, led by Micah Gibb's four hits and Leon Landry's three RBI.
Auburn will try and even the series at 2pm CT on Saturday, throwing So. RHP Jon Luke Jacobs (0-2, 6.08) against LSU's So. LHP Chris Matulis (5-0, 2.57). The game will air live on SportsSouth as well as ESPN360.com.
LSU 14, Auburn 10 (Apr 09, 2010 at Auburn, AL)
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LSU................. 601 301 030 - 14 17 2 (26-4, 8-2 SEC)
Auburn.............. 200 010 052 - 10 12 0 (20-11, 5-5 SEC)
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Win-Anthony Ranaudo(1-0) Save-Chris Cotton(1) Loss-Cole Nelson(4-2) T-3:26 A-3751
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