March 18, 2014
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AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn recorded a season-high 16 hits and scored in every inning in a 10-0 win over Coppin State on a chilly Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
The 29th-ranked Tigers (14-7) picked up their fourth shutout win of the season, matching the most in a single season since 2002 just 21 games into the campaign. Coppin State (4-10) dropped their second straight after winning four of their last five.
Every available position player saw the field for the Tigers with 11 different batters recording hits on the night.
Freshman Connor Short led the way with a 3-for-5 night, scoring a run as well. Jordan Ebert went 2-for-3, driving in a career-high three RBI and scoring once. Damek Tomscha was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Ryan Tella went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Damon Haecker had a career-high three RBI as well, going 1-for-2.
On the mound, senior Michael O'Neal (1-2) got the run support he had been missing all season and put together his best start, tossing six scoreless innings while giving up just two hits. Trey Wingenter and Rocky McCord combined to hold the Eagles to just one hit over the final three innings, striking out three apiece.
Auburn got on the board in the first when Tella put down a squeeze bunt that turned into an infield single, scoring Ebert from third to take a 1-0 lead. Ebert would put down his own squeeze bunt to make it 2-0 in the second, scoring Sam Gillikin from third. A third run came across later in the inning on an RBI single from Tella, scoring Glevenyak.
It would be 4-0 after three innings after a sacrifice fly from Ebert brought home Haecker, who had doubled with one out in the inning.
In the fourth, another sac fly, this time from Haecker, brought home Tomscha to make it 5-0. It would be 6-0 after five innings after J.J. Shaffer singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single from Ebert.
A two-run sixth gave Auburn an 8-0 lead. The scoring began as Daniel Robert ripped an RBI triple into the right-field corner, scoring Anfernee Grier from first after he pinch-ran for Blake Austin. Robert would score three pitches later on Haecker's second sacrifice fly of the game.
The final two Tiger runs came in the seventh and eighth. Haecker's third RBI - all coming without a hit - came when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Brett Binning to make it 9-0. And two Coppin State errors led to Shaffer scoring for the second time in the game in the eighth to make it 10-0.
Auburn will wrap up the two-game midweek series and a six-game home stand at 3 p.m. Wednesday vs. Coppin State. Freshman RHP Kevin Davis is slated to make his second start of the season for the Tigers. Wednesday is "Fear The 'Stache Day" at Plainsman Park. All fans wearing a mustache - real or fake - will receive half-price admission.