April 2, 2011
AUBURN, Ala. - An eight-run eighth inning broke open a one-run game and sent Auburn to an 11-2 loss to No. 1 Vanderbilt on Saturday night at Plainsman Park. The loss dropped Auburn's record to 15-12, 2-6 SEC while Vanderbilt is now 24-3, 6-2.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the eighth, Auburn allowed Vanderbilt to score eight two-out runs, taking control of the game and sending Auburn to a fifth consecutive SEC defeat.
"You have to find a way to cut that inning off and we weren't able to do that tonight," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "We talk about trying to make it a short game. We were right there and a couple plays, a couple swings, and it's a different ballgame but we made a couple of mistakes and they made us pay for it. Against good teams you can't do that. Every mistake we made they capitalized on it."
Jon Luke Jacobs, making his first SEC start of the season, was saddled with the loss to drop to 1-2 despite allowing just three of the Vanderbilt runs. In 5 1/3 innings he allowed five hits and struck out four without issuing a walk.
Grayson Garvin (5-1) picked up the win, allowing both of Auburn's runs in 5 1/3 innings, surrendering eight hits while striking out five without issuing a walk.
Zach Alvord crushed his first home run of the game in the bottom of the third to draw Auburn even at 1-1.
Alvord (2-for-2) was at the plate again in the fourth when Auburn took a 2-1 lead, collecting a bunt base hit with Creede Simpson (1-for-3, 2B) on second. Simpson raced to third on the bunt and was able to score when Vanderbilt first baseman Aaron Westlake couldn't pick up the bunt cleanly, allowing Simpson to race home with the go-ahead run.
Vanderbilt reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the sixth when Tony Kemp (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 R) singled and scored on an Anthony Gomez (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) double. Heads-up base running by Gomez allowed him to score on Jason Esposito fielder's choice in which Auburn failed to record an out, scoring all the way from second.
Tony Caldwell finished the game 2-for3 at the plate and also threw out a runner, the 11th runner he has thrown out stealing this season.
Vanderbilt's Mark Lamm earned his first save of the season by throwing the final 2 1/3 innings, entering with two on and two out in the seventh of a 3-2 game and retiring seven of the eight hitters he faced.
Westlake finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run, one of four Vanderbilt players to collect two hits on the night.
Auburn will try to salvage the finale game of the series on Sunday when it sends Jr. RHP Derek Varnadore (3-1, 3.60) to the mound opposite Sr. RHP Taylor Hill (2-0, 2.76). First pitch is set for 1pm.
Vanderbilt 11, Auburn 2 (Apr 02, 2011 at Auburn, AL)
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Vanderbilt.......... 100 002 080 - 11 11 2 (24-3, 6-2 SEC)
Auburn.............. 001 100 000 - 2 9 0 (15-12, 2-6 SEC)
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Win-Grayson Garvin(5-1) Save-Mark Lamm(1) Loss-Jon Luke Jacobs(1-2) T-2:56 A-3663
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