March 30, 2013
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn pitchers Will Kendall and Daniel Koger combined to hold Alabama to just two hits but Auburn's offense could only muster four hits of its own while hitting into four double plays as it fell, 2-0, in the series finale of a SEC baseball series. The loss dropped Auburn to 16-12, 1-8 SEC while Alabama improved to 18-11, 7-2 SEC.
"It's very frustrating," Auburn Head Coach John Pawlowski said. "Will Kendall and Daniel Koger both did an outstanding job for us. Unfortunately we weren't able to get anything going offensively. Give (Alabama) credit, I thought they pitched extremely well."
Alabama's Spencer Turnbull (3-1) threw a complete game, scattering four hits and three walks while striking out four.
Kendall was charged for an unearned run in three innings of work. The only hit he allowed came to the first hitter of the game, but Auburn turned the first of what would be three double plays defensively to end the scoring threat.
Alabama broke through in the third when Chance Vincent drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored two batters later when Damek Tomscha couldn't handle a Kenny Roberts ball to third.
Koger followed Kendall with six innings of one-hit ball, allowing a seventh-inning run. Mikey White was hit by a pitch and went to third on a Vincent single. Andrew Miller then laid down a bunt on a safety squeeze to score White with the game's final run.
Auburn would put a man in scoring position only once in the game, in the top of the first, but hit into double plays in the first, third, fourth and fifth as it left just two on base for the game.
"Alabama made the plays and did a very good job defensively," Pawlowski said.
The two hits were the fewest allowed by Auburn since Derek Varnadore two-hit Radford on Feb. 27, 2011. The last time Auburn had a combined two-hitter was when Slade Smith, Stephen Kohlscheen, Garrett Bush and Chris O'Neal two-hit Alabama A&M on March 17, 2010.
Auburn returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to Wofford. First pitch is slated for 6pm from Plainsman Park.
Alabama 2, Auburn 0 (Mar 30, 2013 at Auburn, AL)
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Alabama............. 001 000 100 - 2 2 0 (18-11, 7-2 SEC)
Auburn.............. 000 000 000 - 0 4 2 (16-12, 1-8 SEC)
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Win-Spencer Turnbull(3-1) Loss-Will Kendall(0-2) T-2:07 A-3911
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