April 19, 2014
Blake Austin hits a 3-run homer in the first inning of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader (Zach Bland photo)
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By Phillip Marshall
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - For 17 innings Saturday at Plainsman Park, Auburn pitchers dominated No. 11 South Carolina's hitters. But in the ninth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, that changed and the Tigers had to settle for a split.
Dillon Ortman pitched his second complete game of the season, giving up five hits, as Auburn won the first game 4-2. Aubun scored all its runs in the first inning, three of them on Blake Austin's home run over the left field wall.
In the second game, Keegan Thompson gave up a single run through eight innings, but the bullpen couldn't save it. South Carolina scored twice in the top of the ninth and escaped with a 3-2 victory.
But the real trouble started in the bottom of the eighth when Auburn loaded the bases with nobody out. After getting ahead 3-0, Ryan Tella struck out swinging on a high fastball for the first out. Dan Glevenyak struck out swinging on another full count for the second out. Pinch-hitter Daniel Robert lined out to second and the Tigers did not score.
Auburn moved to 22-18 overall and 7-10 in the SEC. South Carolina moved to 28-10 and 9-8. With the series tied at a game apiece, the rubber game is set for 1 p.m. today. Trey Wingenter is scheduled to start for Auburn.
Auburn coach Sunny Golloway couldn't hide his disappointment.
"We should have squeezed in the eighth," Golloway said. Should have a couple of times. We had a 3-2 count and swing at ball four almost over our head. The other one was probably a ball, too. Either way, we had an opportunity to put the ball in play on the first two strikes and didn't do it. Then we go to a freshman and he scorches one. If either of the first two had done that, we'd have been in good shape."
With Thompson's pitch count over 123, Golloway went to senior Jay Wade in the ninth. He gave up a single to Grayson Greiner, struck out Connor Bright, walked Elliott Caldwell and gave up a game-tying double to Gene Cone. Golloway went to Trey Cochran-Gill. After Tanner English was walked to load the bases, No. 9 hitter Jordan Gore lined the first pitch he saw into left field for a single, scoring what proved to be the winning run. Joey Pankake grounded into a double play to end the inning, but the damage was done.
South Carolina closer Joel Seddon got his 10th save, retiring the Tigers in order in the ninth.
Auburn did not make an error in either game and did not trail until the ninth inning of the nightcap.
"We played great for (almost) 17 innings today," Golloway said. "Until the bottom of the eighth, we were really good."
Jordan Ebert and Damek Tomscha had two hits apiece for Auburn. Ebert also had two hits in the opener.
Phillip Marshall is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow Marshall on Twitter: