April 21, 2012
AUBURN, Ala. - No. 6 South Carolina scored four times in the sixth inning and that was the difference in the ballgame as the Auburn baseball team dropped a second straight game, losing 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Plainsman Park. The loss dropped Auburn's record to 21-18, 7-10 SEC while South Carolina is 29-11, 10-7 SEC.
"Anytime you have a close ballgame like this, every swing and every walk could be the difference-maker," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "We fought back and got it to one run but then had a mistake in the ninth and that certainly hurt us."
The Auburn pitching staff was burned by walks, as all three that it issued came around to score. Jon Luke Jacobs (5-1) issued the first two in the sixth before surrendering a two-run triple to Christian Walker and a home run to LB Dantzler that made it 4-1.
The third walk started the ninth for South Carolina as pinch hitter Kyle Martin drew a walk off of reliever Dillon Ortman and was pinch ran for by TJ Costen. A sac bunt put Costen on second prior to Tanner English bouncing one to Dan Glevenyak at short. Glevenyak couldn't handle the bouncer and then magnified the error by throwing wide of home to allow Costen to slide in safely for the two-run lead, 5-3.
Auburn took a 1-0 lead in the fifth as Creede Simpson singled, was sacrificed over to second and scored on Blake Austin's single off the top of the wall in left. Austin finished the game 3-for-3 and was the only Auburn player to finish with multiple hits.
A Kody Ortman pinch-hit single in the sixth scored Cullen Wacker with two outs in the sixth to make it 4-2.
South Carolina starter Jordan Montgomery (4-0) surrendered two runs in 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out one, earning the win.
Matt Price threw the last two innings to pick up his fourth save of the season. It was not an easy save, however, as Garrett Cooper launched Price's first offering off of the scoreboard in left to narrow the gap to 4-3. Price responded by retiring the next six hitters in order.
Auburn will try to snap its three-game SEC slide at 1pm on Sunday. Daniel Koger (2-3) gets the start on the mound for Auburn and will be opposed by Colby Holmes (5-0).
South Carolina 5, Auburn 3 (Apr 21, 2012 at Auburn, AL)
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South Carolina...... 000 004 001 - 5 5 0 (29-11, 10-7 SEC)
Auburn.............. 000 011 010 - 3 9 3 (21-18, 7-10 SEC)
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Win-Jordan Montgomery(4-0) Save-Matt Price(4) Loss-Jon Luke Jacobs(5-1) T-2:37 A-3701
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