March 29, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn's pitching staff combined to hold No. 21 Troy to just three hits while the Auburn offense generated six runs on seven hits and four walks to claim a 6-1 win on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Auburn and improved the club's record to 15-10.
"It's good to win," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "Our guys have worked hard and we didn't have too much luck this past weekend and we didn't play real well. I thought we pitched extremely well early in the ballgame."
Jon Luke Jacobs retired all nine hitters he faced in just his third appearance of the season and his first start since March 2 against Bethune Cookman. Though he didn't factor into the decision, leaving with the game scoreless, he was able to pick to pick-up three strike outs in his three innings of work.
"I thought Jon Luke set the tone early. He went out and attacked the zone and we were fortunate to get some runs on the board," Pawlowski said.
"Giving up one run on three hits while using a lot of guys out of the bullpen, it's always good to get a win," Jacobs said. "Coach (Pawlowski) told me I was only going to go for a few innings so I just went out there and went as hard as I could for as long as I could."
Will Irvin (4-1) took the win for Auburn, tossing two shutout innings, allowing just a single base runner on a leadoff walk in the fifth.
Troy (19-5) starter Shane McCain (0-1) took the loss, allowing an unearned run on a hit and two walks in three innings of work.
A fielding error by Troy second baseman T.J. Rivera enabled Auburn to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Tony Caldwell (1-for-2, 2 BB, 3 R) walked, was sacrificed to second and scored when Rivera couldn't handle a Brooks Beisner (0-for-3) two-out grounder to second.
Auburn extended the lead to 2-0 with back-to-back doubles off the bats of Caldwell and Casey McElory (1-for-2, BB, 2 RBI) in the sixth.
An inning later Auburn busted things open with four runs to go up 6-0. Kevin Patterson (1-for-3, BB, R) led off the inning with an infield single and went to second on a Creede Simpson (0-for-3) sac bunt. Blake Austin's (1-for-4, RBI, R) first career hit, a RBI single to right, scored Patterson to make it 3-0. A bunt single by Justin Fradejas (2-for-4) and a Caldwell walk loaded the bases for McElroy, who also drew a walk to make it 4-0. Wes Gilmer (1-for-2, 2 RBI) capped the inning with a two-RBI single to right.
Troy avoided the shutout with an unearned run in the ninth off of Zach Blatt when Logan Pierce reached on an error, went to second on a balk and scored on a wild pitch.
Auburn stays at home for its next weekend series, playing host to No. 1 Vanderbilt over the weekend. The series starts at 6pm on Friday.
Also over the weekend the Auburn Diamond Dolls will host the third annual Strike Out Cancer 5K at 9am on Saturday at Plainsman Park. All participants in the race will receive a complimentary ticket to Saturday's game, which begins at 6pm and will air live on CSS and ESPN3.com.
Auburn 6, Troy 1 (Mar 29, 2011 at Auburn, AL)
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Troy................ 000 000 001 - 1 3 1 (19-5)
Auburn.............. 000 101 40X - 6 7 1 (15-10)
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Win-Will Irvin(4-1) Loss-Shane McCain(0-1) T-2:21 A-2556
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