March 1, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn sent 10 hitters to the plate in the first inning and nine in the second, scoring four runs in each, to give Will Irvin his first career victory as the Auburn baseball team defeated Bethune-Cookman, 9-2, on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park. Auburn (6-2) finished the game with 15 hits, tying its season high, while Irvin and bullpen mates Dillon Ortman and Bradley Hendrix held Bethune-Cookman (4-5) to seven hits.
"We scored nine runs in the first three innings and we were fortunate to put some quality runs on the board and that loosened up the troops a little bit," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said.
Wes Gilmer finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI, driving in two runs in the first with a single to right and another in the second with a single to center.
"Recently we have been struggling with the bat and it was good to see us come out and swing the bat well," Gilmer said. "Everyone has been working really hard in the cages and it's been frustrating with us not putting up the runs that we know we are capable of. It was nice to see everyone put it together tonight."
Irvin (1-0), making his second straight Tuesday start, worked five innings, holding Bethune-Cookman off the scoreboard until the fourth. In five innings or work he surrendered just five hits and three walks, striking out five, while allowing just the one run.
Dan Gamache (2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Kevin Patterson (1-for-4, R, 2 RBI) each drove in two runs for Auburn. Gamache drove in a run in the second with a single to right with runners on the corners and again in the third with a double to right. Patterson delivered a RBI groundout with the bases loaded in the first and singled in a run in the second.
Casey McElroy (2-for-4, 2 R) and Tony Caldwell (2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI) accounted for five of Auburn's runs as McElroy scored in each of his first two at bats and Caldwell in each of his first three plate appearances.
Ortman and Hendrix combined to throw the final four innings with Ortman surrendering a run on two hits and a walk with two strike outs in two innings while Hendrix allowed just one base runner on a walk while striking out two.
Montana Durapau (0-2) took the loss for Bethune-Cookman, allowing all four first-inning runs on three this and four walks while only recording two outs.
Durapau then turned things over to Ron Lozada, who also allowed four runs on six hits in 2/3 of an inning.
The two teams will return to the field at 4pm on Wednesday for the series finale. Auburn will start Jon Luke Jacobs (1-0, 0.00) on the mound while Bethune-Cookman has not announced its starter.
Auburn 9, Bethune-Cookman 2 (Mar 01, 2011 at Auburn, AL)
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Bethune-Cookman..... 000 101 000 - 2 7 1 (4-5)
Auburn.............. 441 000 00X - 9 15 0 (6-2)
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Win-Will Irvin(1-0) Loss-DURAPAU, Montana(0-2) T-2:35 A-1965
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