April 19, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn offense was limited to just seven hits while the pitching staff combined to allow 14 hits to South Alabama as Auburn fell, 7-1, on Tuesday night at Plainsman Park. South Alabama improved to 21-16, while Auburn fell to 20-16.
"It was a tough way to go," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "We just didn't play very well on all fronts, and I know our team is very disappointed. I told them we have to learn these lessons, and nothing has come easy for this team this year. We have to flush it out pretty quickly and get ready to go on Thursday (against Ole Miss)."
The loss marked the first home loss to South Alabama since April 16, 2008, when South Alabama also defeated Auburn 7-1.
Auburn starter Bradley Hendrix (1-1) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.
Collin Blankenship (2-1) picked up the win in relief for South Alabama, allowing just four hits in four innings with three strikeouts.
South Alabama took an early 1-0 lead in the first as Jordan Patterson (2-for-4, RBI) singled to right to bring home Nolan Earley (2-for-5, 2 2B), who had reached on his 16th double of the season.
After Hendrix held South Alabama to just one hit in the top of the second, Auburn picked up a run off a Kevin Patterson (3-for-4, RBI) single that scored Dan Gamache (0-for-2, 3 BB) who had reached on a walk.
South Alabama took the lead back in the top of the third and didn't let it go. With two outs, Auburn brought Sean Ray in to pitch who then gave up a run as Taylor White (2-for-5, 2B, 2 R) scored on a single to left from Brent Tanner (2-for-4, RBI).
As Auburn made another call to the bullpen to bring in Ethan Wallen, South Alabama picked up three more runs in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run by Brad Hook (1-for-4, 3 RBI). It was Hook's third home run of the season.
Slade Smith entered to pitch for Auburn in the top of the sixth and gave South Alabama its last two runs after White scored on a ground out from Trey Sorrells (0-for-5, RBI), and Earley scored after Hunt Griffith (3-for-3, RBI) singled to left.
Patterson had three of Auburn's seven hits and Cullen Wacker had two.
Tony Caldwell went 0-for-3 with a walk to snap his career-best hitting streak at 11 games but he did throw out a runner trying to steal second, giving him 18 on the year.
Auburn returns to the diamond on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. when it faces Ole Miss in game one of a three-game series at Plainsman Park. The game will air live on ESPNU as part of the Thursday Night Baseball package.
South Alabama 7, Auburn 1 (Apr 19, 2011 at Auburn, AL)
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South Alabama....... 101 032 000 - 7 14 2 (21-16)
Auburn.............. 010 000 000 - 1 7 1 (20-16)
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Win-Blankenship, Collin(2-1) Save-Carden, Michael(2) Loss-Bradley Hendrix(1-1) T-2:44 A-2961
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