Feb. 17, 2015
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MOBILE, Ala. - Anfernee Grier was 3-for-4 and reached base four times, but Auburn baseball fell to South Alabama 7-4 on Tuesday at Stanky Field.
Auburn starter Keegan Thompson finished 5.1 innings, but allowed five earned runs on eight hits in his second start of the season.
Auburn (2-2) sent eight men to the plate in the top of the first inning and took an early 3-0 lead. After Anfernee Grier and Damon Haecker both walked, Jordan Ebert laid down a near-perfect sacrifice bunt to move both into scoring position.
Cleanup hitter Bo Decker followed with a two-run double for the 2-0 lead. The Tigers stretched the advantage to 3-0 on a RBI single by Cody Nulph that plated Decker.
Later, Kyler Deese scored on a wild pitch in the second inning to give Auburn a 4-1 lead.
The Jaguars (4-0) came roaring back and tied the game in the fifth and then added three more in the sixth to take a 7-4 lead.
Auburn tagged USA starter Jared Gates for four earned runs in one inning, but Austin Bembnowski entered out of the pen and finished the game to secure the victory. He tossed 8.0 innings and allowed just three hits with six strikeouts out of the bullpen.
Auburn is in action next on Wednesday at Plainsman Park against Alabama State.